The father of a Tauranga man who committed suicide is backing the Law Commission's recommendation the issue should be more openly reported on.
Tauranga man Colin Milne, whose 30-year-old son Brad committed suicide in July 2011 after a battle with depression, supported the recommendations that media should be allowed to report if a death was a suspected suicide.
The commission suggested the way in which a person took their own life should not be reported except in the case of a matter of national interest, when the Chief Coroner could make an exemption.
It also recommended media could report a death as suspected suicide, if the facts supported that, but hold off from announcing the death was self-inflicted until a coroner ruled on the matter.
Mr Milne said the changes would bring greater awareness.