Safe messaging

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

  • At-risk (when the topic is a matter of fact)
  • Vulnerable or susceptible
  • Those people/populations/groups
  • High-risk people/populations/groups
  • Burden of suicide
  • Suicide epidemic/Skyrocketing suicides
  • Successful suicide Completed suicide
  • Failed suicide
  • Failed attempt
  • Committed suicide

Use this

  • Populations with potentially high risk for suicide
  • Factors that may increase people’s risk for suicide
  • Populations with higher rates of suicide
  • Populations with potentially high risk for suicide
  • Social and economic costs associated with suicide
  • Factual, non-speculative statements regarding the number of deaths by suicide
  • Die by suicide, Died by suicide, Death by suicide
  • Died by suicide
  • Suicide attempt, Attempted suicide
  • Non-fatal attempt
  • Died by suicide