Suicide is a public health issue, but it’s often discussed in whispers, as if a death by suicide brings shame to a family or to a person who has died.
Our society needs to talk more about suicide, especially suicide prevention, but we need to do it in such a way that we don’t unintentionally make matters worse. The still-common phrase “committing suicide,” for example, is a relic of past legal codes and wrongly connotes criminality.
Talking about suicide
As a psychiatrist and a suicide prevention advocate who practice, teach and do research in this area, we are committed to supporting the public discussion of suicide and mental health, especially discussion that helps educate people and save lives.
It’s important to destigmatize mental illness and place it, carefully, into its appropriate context as a public health issue. (Sidney Robert Stacey)
When speaking about suicide, we should avoid terms such as “committed,” “successful” or “failed attempts at” and instead use more direct language such as “death by suicide” or “suicide attempt.”
Using “people first” language such as “person who died by suicide” instead of “suicide victim” is more neutral and inclusive and can reduce stigma.
Public discussion of suicide carries risks, though, and it is crucial that discussions are informed, sensitive and alert to the possibility they may unintentionally do the opposite of what they intend and actually promote suicide.
The greatest risk is what we call suicide contagion — the idea that focusing on the specifics of how someone has died by suicide may trigger others who are at risk of doing the same.
The association between publicly revealing details of how a death by suicide occurred and subsequent “copycat” suicides has long been recognized. Highly publicized suicides, particularly those involving celebrities, are associated with increased risk of self-harm among people who identify closely with the person.
Media coverage of suicide
The value and the risks of discussing suicide have often come into conflict in the context of news reporting. It’s an especially sensitive area that also happens to represent the threshold where free expression — even sincere, well-meaning expression — can become dangerous.
It’s critical to avoid sensationalized reporting that mistakenly glorifies suicide or discloses information about means and methods that vulnerable people may choose to adopt, especially when such reporting does not include context about help that is available and alternatives for people facing challenging circumstances.
On the other side of the coin, emerging evidence suggests that hopeful media reporting on how people have successfully overcome a suicide crisis can reduce subsequent attempts.
Broadly speaking, journalistic practice has changed and improved over time.
Journalists have an important job to do and it’s natural they should question outsiders seeking to limit what they can report.
Similarly, knowledge and practice in mental-health care have changed and continue to improve.
Getting it right
We want as many people as possible to develop a broad understanding of how to recognize, assist and refer people who are in mental-health crisis and may be at risk. (Shutterstock)
#James Donaldson notes: Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes. Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use. Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.#http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle Find out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundation website www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson’s latest book, #CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy
Like others in our field, we appreciate efforts by journalists to understand and try to accommodate clinical concerns about the potential benefits and consequences of reporting on suicide.
These organizations’ guidelines highlight both the risks of contagion and the benefits of reporting on mental health issues that highlight successful interventions and treatments.
Such efforts are part of a broader and very important movement to destigmatize mental illness and place it, carefully, into its appropriate context as a public health issue.
Still, we do continue to see articles and reports that do not respect these guidelines. It would be inappropriate to refer directly to them here because we’d be repeating facts that we feel strongly shouldn’t have been reported as they were.
Out in the open
There is certainly a need to understand suicide, so we must talk about it, and it is critical that we do that out in the open. (Sidney Robert Stacey)
We know we lose people because of lack of access to care, lack of reaching out and stigma. We know there’s social and community benefit to using healthy language, dispelling myths and facilitating help-seeking.
Getting it right is very challenging. There is certainly a need in society to understand suicide, so we must talk about it, and it is critical that we do that out in the open.
People discuss heart attacks, strokes and cancer openly. They work hard to prevent them, raising money, supporting research and changing their lifestyles to reduce risk.
Though there is some distance to go, society’s approach to mental health is moving in that direction. We look forward to the day when the mythology and stigma around discussing mental illness, especially suicide, are gone and when suicide reporting in the media is balanced and respectful of its own impact.
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, please contact Canada’s 9-8-8 hotline, which gives people access to suicide prevention services via call or text. Available in all provinces and territories, 24/7 and free of charge, its goal is to prevent suicide. Calls and texts will be directed to a network of partners in communities across the country. Visit Crisis Services Canada for more resources.
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James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at [email protected] and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
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