THE XAVIER University on Monday asked media outlets in Cagayan de Oro to refrain from giving information about suicide victims that may violate their family’s right to privacy.

It said that media outlets should be cautious in publishing personal information.

“In view of the recent social media posts of local news reports about self-harm behaviors and suicide, the Xavier Ateneo Department of Psychology strongly condemns the dissemination of personal information about these sensitive and extremely stigmatized issues, as well as the dissemination of information that invades the privacy of the persons and families affected,” the university said on Facebook.

“While we understand that other pieces of information in the local news report are news items, there is no need and purpose for the public to know details like the name of the person and specific address. Likewise, being personal information, such exposure without due regard to the sensitivity of the issue potentially violates the privacy rights of the family,” it added.

The department encouraged the media and the public to treat such cases with confidentiality and respect and to help prevent suicide.

It said that suicide victims and their families deserve to be treated with dignity.