Journalism students received training on reporting suicide in what is thought to be an industry first.

Students at Leicester’s De Montfort University were given advice by The Samaritans’ media advisory service in a session about sensitive reporting of the subject.

The service has been offered to working journalists in newsrooms for a number of years.

But it is thought to have been the first time a session has been delivered specifically for journalism students at a university.

Lorna Fraser, pictured, executive lead at the service, said: “It makes absolute sense for journalism students to be supported in developing a good understanding of the sensitivities and how the risks can be reduced.

“Partnering with organisations with specialist knowledge creates opportunities to help students develop their thinking around safer strategies, feeling more confident and informed on the issue when confronted with some of these challenging topics in the newsroom.”

DMU journalism lecturer Jeremy Clay added: “It’s vital that journalism students have a deep understanding of the ethical considerations of reporting suicide before they embark on their newsroom careers, and it was really useful to get such sharp, specialist guidance from The Samaritans’ media advisory service.”