MASS MEDIA AWARENESS ON THE PREVALENCE OF SUICIDE CASES IN RIVERS STATE

Abstract

The study investigates mass media awareness on the prevalence of suicide cases in Rivers State.  The objectives of the study are to: identify the predominant media channels used for the report of prevalence cases of suicide in Rivers State; identify the degree of audience awareness or exposure to suicide cases in the mass media; find out the causes of suicide in Rivers state. It is anchored on Media Development Theory, using survey research design with the questionnaire as the instrument of data collection. The study has a population of 7, 303, 924. It employed Taro Yamene sample size determination formula to arrive at a sample size of 400. The study adopted multi stage sampling technique. The study found that: radio and social media are the predominant media channels used in the reportage of the prevalence of suicide cases in Rivers State; the degree of audience awareness exposure to suicide cases in Rivers State is very high; while separation of partners, depression and mental ill health are the causes of suicide in Rivers State. The study concluded that mass media awareness contributes to the prevelance of suicide cases in Rivers State. It recommends that the print media organisations (Newspaper and magazine) and television should consider suicide stories as important since it concerns human interests and that Rivers audience should be cheerful and avoid separation after marriage since they contribute and lead to suicide events and stories.