Partner Resources

Safe messaging on suicide

The words we use in talking about suicide and mental health matter. Studies show that language can be stigmatizing and impact people with a mental health challenge in reaching out for help. 

When reporting death by suicide

• Be factual and non-speculative, do not sensationalize or glamorize
• Use appropriate/non-stigmatizing language
• Avoid details of suicide
• Avoid negative, violent or graphic images (including methods of suicide)
• Include suicide prevention and mental health resources

Content
warnings

• When reporting on suicide or other mental health-related content, it is best practice to include content warnings above the article or before the video starts.
• • Example:
    Content Warning // Suicide
    CW // Eating Disorders and Self-Harm

Instead of this

1. At-risk (when the topic is a matter of fact)
2. Vulnerable or susceptible
3. Those people/populations/groups
4. High-risk people/populations/groups
5. Burden of suicide
6. Suicide epidemic/Skyrocketing suicides
7. Successful suicide
8. Completed suicide
9. Failed suicide
10. Failed attempt
11. Committed suicide

Use this

1. Populations with potentially high risk for suicide
2. Factors that may increase people’s risk for suicide
3. Populations with higher rates of suicide
4. Populations with potentially high risk for suicide
5. Social and economic costs associated with suicide
6. Factual, non-speculative statements regarding the number of deaths by suicide
7. Die by suicide, Died by suicide, Death by suicide
8. Died by suicide
9. Suicide attempt, Attempted suicide
10. Non-fatal attempt
11. Died by suicide