Sydney Morning Herald journalist Frank Walker reported on the tragic suicide of Justin Berkhout at Wagga Wagga Base hospital, while in the emergency department and waiting for a bed in the psychiatric facility. Mr Walker reported the method of suicide in the hope that the needless death would raise awareness of the need for improved services and greater caution with people at risk.

StigmaWatch contacted  Mr Walker to encourage avoidance of listing suicide methods under any circumstances and to explain the risk of copy-cat deaths; particularly where the report may give inadvertent instructions to other vulnerable people.

Mr Walker responded with the following:

'I appreciate your timely reminder of the need to be wary of reporting the manner of suicide, and we will bear that in mind in the future. But in this case I felt the story had to be told in the hope it would bring pressure to bear on authorities to improve facilities for those at risk of taking their own lives.'