When a person is thinking about suicide one of the things that can help is choosing language that is more empathetic

1. Language Around Suicide Matters
When a person is thinking about suicide one of the things that can help is choosing language
that is more empathetic. This is something that can be a part of successful suicide prevention
training. The words we use reflect attitudes and assumptions even when we might not intend
them to. Here is a closer look at the importance of language and what alternatives we can adopt.

2. Reducing the stigma mental health and suicide carries
A lot of the language currently in use places blame on the patient or the person who tried
suicide or died by suicide. Committed suicide comes from a time when it was seen as
criminal and immoral, and so used a term that reflected that, like committing murder or
adultery. If you know someone who died from a heart attack you would not say they
committed a heart attack. That is the new approach we need to take with suicide. Rather
than being vague, it needs to be direct. There needs to be no blame and the person needs
to be thought of first as a person. Rather than asking a teen as part of youth suicide
prevention if they have thought about hurting themselves, ask them do they think about
killing themselves.

3. Key terms to re-consider
Died of suicide rather than committed suicide
Suicide death rather than a successful suicide attempt
Suicide attempt rather than an unsuccessful attempt
A teen or person that has suicidal thoughts and behavior rather than a suicide attempter or
ideator
Describe their behaviour so perhaps risk taking rather than saying they are using manipulative
behavior or have expressed a cry for help
Working with someone rather than dealing with someone

4. Media sensationalizing suicide in the country
The media sensationalizes suicide when they report it. It is partly their job in order to sell more news.
But it increases the risk to those people who are at risk of suicide because they are impacted by the
wording and attacks and negativity that come from that reporting. Just recently were many articles
speculating about whether the COVID pandemic would see suicide rates skyrocket. Whether the
journalists do it purposefully or not, the way they report increases the risk, it does not reduce it.
Details are described gratuitously and for no reason, things are romanticized or glamorized. While
discussion is essential for youth suicide prevention, that is not what many of these reports are aiming
for or care about. What articles should include;
Making it clear that suicide in preventable
Offering actions people can take if they need help
Giving people a chance to communicate with others
Offering resources from people who offer real support
Not making suicide seem like a normal thing
Ensure people who feel in distress feel competent and able to do something about it
Not give unnecessary details about the death such as the state of the body

5. Conclusion
Part of suicide prevention training and media reporting needs to be thoughtful worded
messages. Words matter and we need to ensure they reflect our new values and beliefs about
suicide.