The Daily Mail’s website MailOnline has today published an article, which it has pushed out to followers on social media and mobile, which details the method of suicide by which television presenter Caroline Flack died.Hacked Off Policy Director Nathan Sparkes,

“Guidelines from mental health charities calling for newspapers and their websites to avoid detailing the method of suicide are designed to protect vulnerable people who are at risk of also taking their own lives. The reckless, irresponsible and dangerous decision of the Mail to ignore these guidelines in pursuit of clicks and a quick headline shows complete disregard for the safety and wellbeing of the public and, in particular, those struggling with their mental health. The Mail’s rejection of ethical reporting of suicide is no surprise given they are a member of IPSO, the complaints-handler controlled by the newspaper industry. Every time a well-known person dies by suicide, the important guidelines of mental health charities are ignored and IPSO does nothing to meaningfully sanction the publishers involved. Until lessons are learned and IPSO is replaced with an independent regulator what has happened after the death of Ms Flack will repeat again and again.”

ENDSFor press enquiries contact: sara@hackinginquiry.org and 07554 665 940NOTESHacked Off is the campaign for a free and accountable press, and we work with the victims of press abuse to achieve those aims.If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, The Samaritans offers support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. For services local to you, the national mental health database – Hub of Hope – allows you to enter your postcode to search for organisations and charities who offer mental health advice and support in your area.