Robin Williams death: How should the media report a suicide?

The death of US actor and comedian Robin Williams has prompted a debate about the way suicide is reported in the media. Following Williams' death on Monday, Samaritans emailed national newspapers "strongly advising them" to follow the charity's guidelines on the reporting of suicide. In particular, the charity urged editors to "be mindful that celebrity suicides have a higher risk of encouraging copycat behaviour". In 2008, : "Vulnerable individuals may be influenced to engage in imitative behaviours by reports of suicide, particularly if the coverage is extensive, prominent, sensationalist and/or explicitly describes the method of suicide." But it...