Chester Bennington‘s widow Talinda has hit out at the website TMZ for the manner in which they reported the death of Avicii.
The Linkin Park frontman passed away in July after taking his own life. He was just 41-years-old. Earlier this week, it was reported that Avicii had also died by suicide.
The Samaritans’ media guidelines for reporting suicide advise that it is inappropriate to use the word “committed”, as well as stressing the dangers of reporting the specific details of the method that the deceased used to take their own life.
“Please, please, DO NOT click on the TMZ article or any other about the private details of Avicii’s passing,” Talinda Bennington wrote on Twitter. “This is how WE can stop #filthytmz.”
Responding to another follower on Twitter, she added: “I would like to politely ask you to change your verbiage a bit though. It is shaming and stigmatising to say “committed suicide “. Deepest gratuity if you could write “Died by suicide”.”
Anna Shinoda, author and wife of Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda also called for more sympathetic coverage.
“If you want to be respectful of the person who has passed and their family and friends, step in front of your curiosity,” she wrote. “Your click on that page is your vote. Your click tells them that you want more articles like these. Your click pays them for violating privacy and grieving space.”
If you want to be respectful of the person who has passed and their family and friends, step in front of your curiosity. Your click on that page is your vote. Your click tells them that you want more articles like these. Your click pays them for violating privacy & grieving space https://t.co/x28ZVEQzXH
— Anna Shinoda (@AnnaShinoda) May 1, 2018
Both Talinda Bennington and Anna Shinoda have been vocal advocates in the battle against depression since Chester’s passing.
Earlier this year, Talinda launched the Campaign to Change Direction – highlighting the signs of depression and encouraging fans to ‘lend a hand’ to those suffering. She is calling upon fans to know the symptoms of depression, as well as sharing “healthy habits of emotional well-being”.
“The passing of my husband cannot be in vain,” she said on his birthday. “His passing was a catalyst for opening up dialogue with respect to emotional and mental health. Throughout his life, he saved countless lives with his music and philanthropy. And through his death, he continues to save lives by spotlighting the urgent need for a change in our mental health culture.
“It’s up to us to change the way we think of mental health, to acknowledge that everyone has their own mental health to care for, and to end stigma and shame when we need to seek help for it.”
FOR HELP AND ADVICE ON MENTAL HEALTH: