The recent tragic suicide of a teenage girl who didn't have a birth certificate occupied the front pages of many major local newspapers. Some of the coverage explored the complex issues around the case but much of it was insensitive and lurid. Sharing personal Facebook posts and speculating as to how they might explain suicidal actions, as one newspaper did, is not helpful. It encourages an oversimplified interpretation of events, and also shows a lack of consideration for distress caused to the victim's family and friends. The episode shows that more needs to be done to...
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