SMRT deaths - media blackout?

Starting from October, there has been a slew of deaths at MRT stations. While we know that the first incident involving Tan Jee Suan was a suicide, and that the public donated a huge sum to the deceased's family, the media coverage for the subsequent deaths appear to be less extensive. There are speculations of a media blackout.

Anyone noticed that in the 6.30pm 10:00pm Ch8 news have not shown this incident. If it were really a drunk Indian local who fell into the tracks accidentally, then why the media blackout?

Says another,

Ya i saw a small column on wanbao also and thats it. My guess is that they should have received instructions not to report on these incidents.

I would think that is the case, especially after news of the $500,000 donated during the wake was publicised. There were fears of copycat suicides occurring, and it's possibly happening now. Incidentally, a Japanese pupil's suicide letter was publicised in Japanese newspapers. It is suspected that it encouraged more students to write in and sparked some copycat suicides.

Over the next few days, there would be at least 24 more letters threatening suicide. Three young students, including Rie, killed themselves over the next weekend. And one elementary school principal hanged himself from a tree. He reportedly had been reprimanded for his slow response to a case of bullying at his school.

Sometimes it's a tough call to make, how much information to reveal or cover up for the greater good. Exposing the extent of harm done to the pupil and the state of bullying in schools could have led to more suicides, likewise reporting on the plight of Tan Jee Suan and the money could have led to more copy suicides as desperate people see it as a quick way to raise money for their families. Total disclosure doesn't always seem to be a beneficial thing.