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Death Studies Volume 47, 2023 - Issue 4
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Articles

Understanding public reactions to state security officials’ suicide cases in online news comments

Muhammad Ittefaqa School of Communication Studies, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia, USACorrespondence[email protected]
ORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5334-7567
ORCID Icon,
Shafiq Ahmad Kambohb School of Communication Studies, University of the Punjab, Lahore, PakistanORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1063-0850
ORCID Icon,
Azhar Iqbalc School of Media and Communication Studies, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan
,
Urwah Iftikhard Department of Mass Communication, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan
,
Mauryne Abwaoe Department of Arts and Media, Louisiana State University, Shreveport, Louisiana, USAORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1009-3859
ORCID Icon &
Rauf Ariff Department of Mass Communication, Towson University, Towson, Maryland, USA
Pages 499-508 | Published online: 19 Jul 2022
 
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Abstract

Little is known about public reactions to state security officials’ suicide in Muslim countries like Pakistan. To explore readers’ reactions in online comments, we analyzed 1,765 comments related to 10 news stories about suicide published in five mainstream English newspapers. The findings revealed six themes: stress, depression, and mental health issues; controversial investigation reports and misinformation; need for stronger accountability to address corruption in the country; criticizing media and security institutions; sympathy for the deceased and their families; and suicide and Islam. We recommend that suicide prevention organizations should monitor audience comments to devise and suggest resources for the public.

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