Stigma & Safe Language
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- Safe Language
What is Stigma?
One of the most effective ways to prevent suicide is to talk about it. When someone feels like they can talk openly about what they’re going through, they start to feel less isolated and more comfortable getting help.
But stigmas — negative beliefs and assumptions about people who attempt or consider suicide — can cause feelings of guilt, shame or weakness that get in the way of honest conversations.
Telling someone else that you’re having suicidal thoughts isn’t always easy. But by using thoughtful and respectful language, we can break down stigmas and create communities where people feel safe to share their struggles.
Suicide-Safe and People-First Language
Language is powerful. Changing the way we talk about suicide and mental health can feel unusual or unnecessary, but words can have a big impact on people who are experiencing a crisis. When you talk about these topics respectfully and intentionally, you give the people around you a safe place to go when they’re ready to reach out for help.
Suicide-Safe Language
Even if we don’t mean to, we can make people who are experiencing suicidal thoughts feel worse or more isolated when we use harmful or careless words. Suicide-safe language is about being empathetic, non-judgmental and thoughtful about how we communicate.
Instead of...
Commit suicide
Committed suicide
Failed suicide
Unsuccessful suicide
Suicide victim’s family
Try saying...
Died by suicide
Took their own life
Attempted suicide
Survived a suicide attempt
Survivors of suicide loss
Why?
“Commit” suggests that people who attempt or die by suicide have done something wrong
Try to avoid phrases that make it seem like dying by suicide is a “success”
Avoids labeling or reducing someone’ s identity
Person-First Language
Using person-first language means making an effort to focus on the individual — not what they’re feeling or experiencing. Even a small shift in wording can empower people to overcome or manage their challenges, rather than feeling like they’re defined by them.
Instead of...
Suicide victim
Suicidal
Crazy or Mentally Ill
Try saying...
Person who died by suicide
Having suicidal thoughts
Living with a mental health challenge