Let’s Change How We Talk About Suicide

𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑊𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔: 𝑆𝑢𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑑𝑒, 𝐶ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑐 𝐼𝑙𝑙𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠

September is Suicide Prevention Month, and how we talk about suicide matters. Words are important, and using the correct terminology destigmatizes these critical conversations.

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐝𝐨𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞:

DON"T say a person “commits” or “committed” suicide. Instead, say that a person died from suicide or by suicide. We want to remove the negative associations alluding to sin or crime (i.e., one commits a sin or a crime).

DO talk about suicide as a public health issue. Suicide is a leading cause of death for adults, and is a complex, multifaceted event. Suicide is not a moral or ethical failing.

DON"T use the words “completed,” “successful,” or “failed” when discussing suicide. This sort of terminology frames suicide as a task to accomplish.

DO talk about suicide as if you would speak of any other illness or disease. For example, many people with diabetes or cancer get treatment and support, and their symptoms improve. Still, some die from diabetes or cancer despite treatment. Many individuals with depression or thoughts of suicide get treatment and support, and their symptoms improve, while others will die from suicide. Mental illness can be terminal despite our best efforts to get someone treatment, support, and resources (just like any other health condition). 
  
For more information, check out this fantastic article from the Suicide Prevention Alliance: 
https://lnkd.in/g6kGSJMG

If you are in crisis and need immediate support, dial 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org/

Sources:

How To Talk About Suicide | Johns Hopkins | Bloomberg School of Public Health. (2022, June 15). https://lnkd.in/gz79RGnR

Suicide. (n.d.). National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Retrieved September 26, 2023, from https://lnkd.in/gRDSm9gT

Suicide Language. (n.d.). Suicide Prevention Alliance. Retrieved September 26, 2023, from https://lnkd.in/g6kGSJMG