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Suicidal thoughts can seem like they will last forever - but these thoughts and feelings pass with time. This app is designed to support those dealing with suicidal thoughts and help prevent suicide.

Having a plan in place that can help guide you through difficult moments can help you cope and keep you safe. A safety plan is designed so that you can start at the beginning and continue through the steps. You can customize your own warning signs that a crisis may be developing, coping strategies for dealing with suicidal urges, places for distraction, friends and family members you can reach out to, professionals you can call, methods of making your environment safe, and your own important reasons for living.

If following your safety plan is not enough to stem a suicidal crisis, then this app also contains an easy-to-access list of emergency resources so that help is just a tap away. For long-term recovery, we provide a thorough guide to dealing with suicidal thoughts.

This application is open source and we are looking for contributors! https://github.com/suicidesafetyplan/safetyplan-ios/

This update contains optimizations to the Plan page and many backend changes. Thanks to shayneptorres on Github for his work on this!

Way better than paper!

I have recommended this several times to others & many different mental health professionals. I have received very positive feedback from them. The just plain love it!

I had & have outstanding mental health care by the VA. However, a safety plan on a sheet of paper, upon leaving the hospital or in the course of outpatient treatment, is not practical. It'll get lost, destroyed in the laundry, the dog will eat it, it might be shredded accidentally, or just plain wear out. Most people carry around their cell phone. This app is easy to use, wise to have, has a great layout, & was thoughtfully designed.

I recommend you review your plan every 3 months & write down what changes you think your plan needs then review with your psychotherapist before updating it. If you don't have the energy to devote to updating it (yes, depression can do that), talk it out every 3 months with your psychotherapist (you are worth it, darn it!). I would give this app 10 stars if that were possible.

Great, helpful app!!!

I'm enjoying interacting with this app, but would like to suggest an improvement. I'd like to see an integrated journal functionality, to be able to track thoughts, events, etc... nothing elaborate, simple note taking capabilities, with time/date stamp, or presented in a calendar style. Aside from that, its a great app!!!

You get out of it what you put in

This is a great app to have to remind you of stuff when you might not be in the best state of mind to remember it. It only works if you're honest with yourself and make sure to include and write down all your warning signs and stuff like that. I've used this app for years and it's very helpful. It'd be nice if there was a cloud save/backup feature for when you get a new device.

The developer, Inquiry Health LLC, indicated that the app's privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer's privacy policy.

Data Not Collected

The developer does not collect any data from this app.

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

Seller

Inquiry Health LLC

Compatibility

iPhone

Requires iOS 9.3 or later.

iPad

Requires iPadOS 9.3 or later.

iPod touch

Requires iOS 9.3 or later.

Mac

Requires macOS 11.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip.

Age Rating

12+ Infrequent/Mild Medical/Treatment Information

Family Sharing

With Family Sharing set up, up to six family members can use this app.

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‎Suicidal thoughts can seem like they will last forever - but these thoughts and feelings pass with time. This app is designed to support those dealing with suicidal thoughts and help prevent suicide. Having a plan in place that can help guide you through difficult moments can help you cope and kee...

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Top Rated Apps for Suicide Prevention - Suicide Prevention Alliance

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Top Rated Apps for Suicide Prevention Virtual Hope Box The original non-app version of the Hope Box was developed as a tool to help therapists in clinical practice work with ... Top Rated Apps for Suicide Prevention Read More "

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Let's Talk About Suicide is a JOY podcast that provides support, conversation, and comfort to people affected by suicide.

Many people are affected by suicide and you may have experienced the suicide of a loved one - a partner, a sibling, a child, a parent, or a friend. It can be incredibly hard to make sense of what has happened, how you can cope with it, and how to recover from it.

This podcast helps people like you through this difficult time. It is for everyone, but it has a particular emphasis on suicide bereavement in the LGBTIQA+ communities.

Listening to this podcast may raise issues for you and if this is the case, we would encourage you to contact one of the following services in Australia:

About the Podcast

This podcast raises awareness of suicide, how it affects people, and how people can learn to live with the death of a loved one.

The podcast features the voices of four people who have lost a loved one to suicide: Beau, Lara, Peter, and Alice. They share their lived experience with you in an incredibly open and honest way. To help make sense of their experience are two experts in the field of suicide bereavement and suicide prevention: Dr Louise Flynn from Support After Suicide and Joe Ball from Switchboard Victoria.

The main themes we talk about are:

How to talk about suicide in a safe and helpful way.

What you might experience when you are grieving a suicide death.

Dealing with guilt and blame.

Preparing for anniversaries and other special occasions.

Supporting a person who has lost someone to suicide.

Honouring the loved one.

Let's Talk About Suicide was produced with no government or sector funding by Hamish Blunck, a JOY volunteer, and in association with:

Support After Suicide, a program of Jesuit Social Services, that provides support to people who have been bereaved by suicide.

Switchboard Victoria, which provides peer-driven support services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender divers, intersex, queer and asexual people, their families, allies and communities. Switchboard is also a partner of Qlife.

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Let's Talk About Suicide is a JOY podcast that provides support, conversation, and comfort to people affected by suicide. Many people are affected by suicide and you may have experienced the suicide of a loved one - a partner, a sibling, a child, a parent, or a friend.

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A suicide prevention podcast. TEDx speaker, Leo Flowers has a Masters in Counseling/Psychology and is a stand-up comedian, so he knows exactly why he's depressed. Join him while he interviews other mental health experts, comedians and best-selling book authors as they destigmatize mental health and teach you how to thrive.

A suicide prevention podcast. TEDx speaker, Leo Flowers has a Masters in Counseling/Psychology and is a stand-up comedian, so he knows exactly why he's depressed. Join him while he interviews other mental health experts, comedians and best-selling book authors as they destigmatize mental health and teach you how to thrive.

Funny and relatable!

I learned about Leo's podcast after attending his comedy show in San Diego. I took one listen and was hooked! I appreciate that he brings light to the subject of mental health as I struggle with my mental health and it can be a taboo topic of discussion. Leo is well spoken and makes you feel understood and it's a bonus that he's funny too! Thank you for creating a safe space for us listeners!

The conversation that needs to be had

I first saw Leo at a comedy show and found him hilarious. When I found out he did a podcast on mental health, this piqued my interest completely as I struggle with mental health. So I listened to the most recent episode and it hooked my in with the "exit signs." It got me thinking, "What are my exit signs? Do I even have any? Do I need to look for what they are?" So after that, I went back to the beginning, and listening to the first episode. Then the next. And so on and so on. Each episode I've listened to so far has been insightful, food for thought, as well as something you never would have never thought you would hear about mental health. Each guest has brought something great to the table, think of it as a potluck and each person brought their own dish, because they definitely brought a dish to serve.

From one Black psychologist to another

Just wanted to say thank you and that I appreciate all that you do. I discovered you a few months ago. You were there at one of the roughest points in my life when I was unemployed and trying to finish graduate school while living off of the last of my savings. Life still isn't smooth, but you remind me that my battles are not in vain and that I don't have to accept my life as is. It was more important than I realized for me to hear another Black man going through similar struggles. I feel like you're an old friend of mine who I catch up with when we meet in a city somewhere. I will continue to listen to the podcast to learn from you. Thank you.

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‎Before You Kill Yourself on Apple Podcasts

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A suicide prevention podcast. TEDx speaker, Leo Flowers has a Masters in Counseling/Psychology and is a stand-up comedian, so he knows exactly why he's depressed. Join him while he interviews other mental health experts, comedians and best-selling book authors as they destigmatize mental health and...

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K-12 toolkit for mental health promotion and suicide prevention

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K-12 Toolkit for Mental Health Promotion & Suicide Prevention

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How to start a conversation about suicide | Jeremy Forbes

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Why is Suicide Such a Hard Topic to Talk About? People are often afraid to bring up the word suicide, thinking it will give someone the idea to end their life. Please believe me when I tell you that you cannot give them the idea.

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One of the most beautiful things about literature is how we find ourselves in books. Books can make us feel less alone. Even in "normal" times when we aren't dealing with pandemics and large-scale unrest, 40% of adults report feelings of loneliness. Reading fiction can reduce those feelings.

It's not easy talking about suicide. I've struggled with suicidal ideation for much of my life. When I was 16, I gave in to that nagging little voice in the back of my mind. It told me that my life would never get better, that the world was better off without me. I gathered all the pills I could find, finished my homework, swallowed the pills, and went to bed. I remember waking up the next day, feeling disappointed and utterly alone.

Now, I am a happy and well-adjusted adult. I'm successful by conventional standards, with a loving spouse and a job I enjoy. I have a wonderful community of both genetic and found family members. Nonetheless, there are still times when there's a whisper in the back of my mind. It still tells me that the world is too heavy to bear and that it would be better off without me in it.

When you try to talk to people about that feeling, they often get understandably upset. It's scary for people who love you to hear that you would even think about ending your own life. Still, such responses can make you feel even more isolated. The little voice at the back of your mind whispers that there is something profoundly wrong with you since other people don't think about death as a relief or escape.

By signing up you agree to our terms of use

To be clear, I have been in therapy for a long time, have found medications that help, and am not in imminent danger of suicide. However, if you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal ideation, there are lots of resources to help. Here are a few examples:

Additionally, it has helped me to discover like-minded folks in literature. I find it encouraging to read about characters who have attempted or considered suicide, but come out the other side. Inspired by the play title for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf, I decided to compile a list of such books. I hope that the books on this list might help someone like me feel less alone and maybe a bit more hopeful.

Books with Characters Who Consider Suicide But Get Better

If you found this list helpful, here are a few others you might want to also check out:

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8 Books with Characters Who Consider Suicide But Find Hope

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One of the most beautiful things about literature is how we find ourselves in books. Books can make us feel less alone. Even in "normal" times when we aren't dealing with pandemics and large-scale unrest, 40% of adults report feelings of loneliness. Reading fiction can reduce those feelings.

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Author: Huntsman Mental Health Institute

Suicide has been the second leading cause of death for young people ages 10-24 since 2014, and in Utah it's the leading cause of death for children ages 10-17. Losing a child to suicide is every parent's worst nightmare. The best prevention is communication-finding out early that something is wrong, and getting your child the help they need.

"Unfortunately, children having suicidal thoughts or knowing about suicide is more common than you may think," says Kristin Francis, MD, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Huntsman Mental Health Institute. "We have seen children as young as six or seven reporting suicidal thoughts."

Why It's Important to Talk About Mental Health and Suicide

Although Francis acknowledges that expressing suicidal thoughts occurs more frequently in children ages 10 and beyond, she underscores the importance of parents being ready to talk to their kids about mental health conditions from an early age. "Given that roughly half of all lifetime mental health disorders start by mid-teens, parents need to have a plan for how to talk to their children about suicide as soon as it is appropriate."

"If there isn't a need to discuss tragic events with your child, then you don't need to address it with them," Francis says. "If they ask questions, or if you know your young children are going to hear about a tragic event, then you definitely need to talk to them about it-even if they are younger than eight."

Talking About Suicide May Be Difficult, But Essential

Talking about suicide with your child is important for many reasons, but most important, it helps dispel misinformation. Talking about suicide doesn't put ideas in someone's head or cause suicide. Rather, it helps create a safe environment where children can ask questions. Don't avoid the conversation because it is difficult.

"Suicide impacts almost everyone directly or indirectly. Hearing about it from a trusted source, like a parent or caregiver, will assist your child with the right information and they can speak to others about it accurately."
Kristin Francis, MD, HMHI Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

Young Children: Keep it Simple

If a really young child asks about suicide, Francis recommends that you keep your answers short and to the point. She recommends saying something like, "This person had a disease in their brain and it took over." Talk about it like any other health condition or as if the individual died of a heart attack or cancer, such as "They died and it is very sad." Follow the lead of the child and answer their questions with short answers.

Elementary-Age Children 7-10: Honesty is Best

Francis recommends that at this age, you can give more detail, but still keep your answers short. Continue to emphasize that the individual died from an illness and that death is sad. It's critical that the parent follow the child's lead and answer their questions truthfully while being careful not to provide too much information the child may not be ready for. She recommends saying something like "James had a disease called depression and he had it for many years. I wish he would have been able to get more help."

Middle Schoolers 11-14: Add Detail

By the time a child is in middle school, Francis recommends talking to pre-teens about warning signs.

"Middle schoolers are dealing with a lot of big emotions and likely have heard someone talking about depression or suicide or they may have personally dealt with a mental health condition," Francis says. "Ask what they have heard or what they know about suicide, what feelings they have about it and what they believe to be true about the causes of suicide."

Gathering information from your child allows you to correct misinformation and enter the conversation where they are. Parents can explain that when a person dies by suicide it is not their fault. "Parents can explain that people with depression sometimes die, it can be a very serious illness, and sometimes it is stronger than the treatment."

Parents need to ask their children if they have ever had thoughts of suicide or if any of their friends have. "Don't fear the question, you want your child to trust you and feel safe that they can talk to you about this serious topic," she says.

Teenagers: Continue the Conversation

By the time a child reaches high school, it is likely they know someone with a mental health condition. The conversation about suicide needs to continue, but at this point, they need to know what to do when they or a friend has suicidal thoughts.

"Ask your teen what they will do if they start having suicidal thoughts, or when they are concerned a friend is having suicidal thoughts," Francis says. "Let them know depression and other mental health conditions are not from a person being weak or a lack of willpower, but illnesses that can be treated. Make sure they know that help is available and that they can always come and talk to you."

It is critical that parents reassure their teenager that having a mental health condition is normal and they should ask for help.

What if I'm Concerned My Child is Thinking About Suicide?

"In general, a parent should be concerned if a child's mood has changed, if their performance in school has gone down, if they are having problems with friends, or if they have a loss of appetite or sleep. This is when you want to start asking questions," says Francis.

If your child starts talking about death and saying life is too hard, or if they think people would be better off without them, or they don't want to live anymore, that's when you need to reach out for help immediately. "There are professionals who can guide you through what to do in these situations," Francis says.

Suicide Prevention Resources

If you or a loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis, call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or download the SafeUT app.

***
This blog was updated on September 6, 2022.

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How to Talk to Your Child About Suicide: An Age-By-Age Guide

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Author: Huntsman Mental Health Institute Suicide has been the second leading cause of death for young people ages 10-24 since 2014, and in Utah it's the leading cause of death for children ages 10-17. Losing a child to suicide is every parent's worst nightmare.

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Journey to recovery - personal stories

Those who have recovered from mental health conditions often attribute part of their recovery journey to the people who supported them.

Hearing their stories of recovery can help you imagine your own journey.

Read more personal stories

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Worried about someone suicidal - Beyond Blue

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Learn what to do and say when worried about someone suicidal. Recognise suicidal warning signs, start a conversation, make a plan to keep them safe.

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‎MoodPanda is your Supportive Mood Diary Track your mood & get anonymous support from a community of 100k+ lovely people "I have been using this app for over a year now and it is very helpful for keeping track of my mood. The MoodPanda community is very supportive and I have made lots of new friend...

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‎Stay Alive 4+Grassroots Suicide Prevention

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‎This app is a pocket suicide prevention resource, packed full of useful information to help you stay safe. You can use it if you are having thoughts of suicide or if you are concerned about someone else who may be considering suicide. In addition to the resources, the app includes a safety plan,...

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Michelle and Christophe discuss what it was like for Christophe growing up with a rare form of dwarfism, and how he chose to move towards his passion for music, and acting despite the many obstacles he faced physically as well as from the industry. Christophe is the producer and host of the podcast I'm Kind Of A Big Deal: Little People, Huge Stories, Christophe interviews people of short stature, sharing the successes and the struggles in their exceptional lives. Standing 4'4" and having a rare form of dwarfism, Christophe endured three major surgeries before age 18. Born and raised in Detroit, MI, Christophe has proven everyone wrong who discounted his ability. After graduating from Michigan State University, he worked as a TV producer while touring in a rock band. Christophe now lives in Los Angeles, where he's a drummer, actor/stuntman, surfer, journalist, and speaker. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/im-kind-of-a-big-deal/id1484411273 https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophez/ https://www.facebook.com/christophe.zajacdenek/ https://www.instagram.com/bigdealpod/ https://www.tommycorey.com/

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11:11 Calling - Changing the perception and conversation surrounding mental health and suicide, With Vonnie Woodrick.

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A discussion about moving forward after losing a loved one to suicide, changing the stigma around mental health and suicide, and finding healing. Vonnie is an author of the book - i understand pain, love and healing after suicide, host to the Behind the Smile podcast, and a social change agent who is passionate about changing the perception and conversation surrounding mental health and suicide.

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Dr. Anthony Hassan, President and CEO of the Cohen Veterans Network (CVN) joins us today. CVN is a network of 25 non-profit mental health clinics providing care to veterans and their families. The facilities are located in or around historically dense veteran and active duty military communities.

Dr. Hassan is a veteran of the United States Army and Air Force with 30 years of experience in military behavioral health. He holds a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the University of South Florida and is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School.

You can connect with Anthony here: Cohen Veterans Network, Email

What If Fellowship: https://whatif.vc/fellowship

HERE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT:

1. Anthony Hassan talks about his 30 years of experience in the military, focusing on the mental health of active-duty service members. We discuss the unique problems military members and veterans face regarding mental health and why finding help isn't easy.

2. We discussed the stigma around mental health specifically in the military and veteran communities and why it seems to be worse at times than in other communities.

3. Anthony explained what mental health care services are in place for veterans, and where the gaps exist today and how the Cohen Veteran Network was created to fill those gaps.

4. We talk about the workforce inside the clinics, the shortage of mental health workers in America, and how the Cohen Veterans Network fosters their network of clinicians on staff.

5. The Cohen Veterans Network is continually experimenting with new technological advances and cutting-edge treatments that they believe can help veterans with their mental health. The CVN platform has become an incubator or pilot partner of choice for many up-and-coming technologies serving the mental health space.

6. Anthony shares what the long-term goals are for the clinics and what is needed in terms of support to make those goals a reality.

Connect with the Stigma Podcast in the following ways: What If Fellowship, Website, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Email

Connect with host Stephen Hays here: Stephen Hays Personal Website, Twitter, LinkedIn, What If Ventures (Mental Health Venture Fund)

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Stigma Podcast - Mental Health - #84 - Veterans Mental Health with Dr. Anthony Hassan, CEO of Cohen Veterans Network

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Dr. Anthony Hassan, President and CEO of the Cohen Veterans Network (CVN) joins us today. CVN is a network of 25 non-profit mental health clinics providing care to veterans and their families. The facilities are located in or around historically dense veteran and active duty military communities.

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What would it look like if we elevated opportunities for children, biological parents, and foster parents who are navigating the foster care system? What untapped talent, supports, and greater family dynamics might we discover? Derrick Stephens, LCSW, helps us gain greater insight into the Foster Care System, Mental Health, education, and future areas of growth. Also, we have the pleasure to give a spotlight to his non-profit: Underdog Dreams!

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Mind Redefined: Lifting the Stigma Around Mental Health - Episode 18: Veterans, Suicide Prevention, and Firewatch

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More than 20 Veterans die by suicide every day. In this episode, we explore in-depth statistics, common myths, and helpful resources for Veterans who are wrestling with suicidal thoughts. Nick Howland (The Fire Watch) and Mike Fleming and Liz Sherr (Cohen Military Family Clinic) share from their expertise and offer hope to our Veterans!

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MannMukti.org is a one-stop resource for South Asians to learn about and address mental health concerns with each other.
MannMukti translates to "mental liberation" in Hindi. Our mission is to encourage healthy, open dialogue of mental health issues in an effort to remove stigma, improve awareness and promote self-care.
Together, let's #SpeakUp.

MannMukti.org is a one-stop resource for South Asians to learn about and address mental health concerns with each other.
MannMukti translates to "mental liberation" in Hindi. Our mission is to encourage healthy, open dialogue of mental health issues in an effort to remove stigma, improve awareness and promote self-care.
Together, let's #SpeakUp.

A must listen!

Absolutely love and appreciate the work MannMukti is attempting to do through their podcast! Their podcast highlights the struggles faced by countless South Asian Americans in such an eloquent, thoughtful, and compassionate manner! Please give this a listen if you're struggling with any sort of mental health problem; this podcast will provide some form of solace, support, and give you a community!

This is amazing!!

I think this is so awesome!! It's the first of its kind and I think MannMukti is doing amazing things to change the perspective of mental health in South Asian communities! The podcasters are not only good at interviewing but also great at listening to the people who are being interviewed. I highly recommend this podcast to anyone interested in mental health and particularly those who are interested in mental health with regards to the south Asian community.

A much needed podcast

Stories of stigma is such as fantastic podcast. It is a great blend of accurate educational material from professionals in the mental health field as well powerful stories from individuals in the South Asian community who have experienced mental health concerns. One of my favorite quotes from a recent episode called The Science of Mental Illness summed up the issue of stigma so perfectly. Dr. Lund said that "stigma occurs beause of lack of information". Mann Mukti is doing an amazing job with the podcast by reducing stigma through knowledge, information, and storytelling.

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stories of stigma: south asian mental health

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‎Stories of Stigma: South Asian Mental Health on Apple Podcasts

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‎MannMukti.org is a one-stop resource for South Asians to learn about and address mental health concerns with each other. MannMukti translates to "mental liberation" in Hindi. Our mission is to encourage healthy, open dialogue of mental health issues in an effort to remove stigma, improve awareness a...

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Join Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention Short Takes on Suicide Prevention to hear leaders in the field. We are especially interested in topics related to Military Veterans. Topics will be relevant for Veterans, care-givers, clinicians and researchers.

Join Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention Short Takes on Suicide Prevention to hear leaders in the field. We are especially interested in topics related to Military Veterans. Topics will be relevant for Veterans, care-givers, clinicians and researchers.

Happy to See This Here

I am happy to see this podcast and the VA focus on this issue in this medium. Thank you for pioneering this podcast. I did not know the VA had these education and research centers until this podcast! Very interesting interviews! As a veteran, it shows me that VA is investing heavily into suicide prevention and trying to break it down with suicide prevention leaders. Have to be able to understand it in order to find the best treatments. Very interesting podcast.

This is my fave suicide prevention podcast!

This is my fave suicide prevention podcast! Adam brings in the best guests and really digs deep into their research and practice. I learn tons every time. Thank you, Rocky Mountain MIRECC, for making this excellent show!

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rmirecc short takes on suicide prevention

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rocky mountain mirecc for suicide prevention

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‎RMIRECC Short Takes on Suicide Prevention on Apple Podcasts

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Join Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention Short Takes on Suicide Prevention to hear leaders in the field. We are especially interested in topics related to Military Veterans. Topics will be relevant for Veterans, care-givers, clinicians and researchers. Join Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention Short Takes on Suicide Prevention to hear leaders in the field.

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Life after suicide loss is nothing short of a wasteland of the leftover pieces of your shattered heart, of your former self. Join host Melissa, a mother who lost her 21-year old son Alex to suicide in 2016, as she has real conversations with other loss survivors, healers and mental health experts. In these conversations she explores the relevant topics and asks the hard questions we all need to talk about and hear answers to. Nothing is 'off limit' as she delves into areas such a trauma, hope, healing, self-care, stigma, grief & mental health. Melissa believes that we learn to live with our grief ,not get over it, and only through real, honest talk and mindful choices can we move forward in this new life (one we never wanted). Along with finding the comfort of a community and hope for a little brighter tomorrow, you too just may begin to fill your own 'grief toolbox' with some good, solid tools to help you find, even learn to love, your (new) self along the way.

Life after suicide loss is nothing short of a wasteland of the leftover pieces of your shattered heart, of your former self. Join host Melissa, a mother who lost her 21-year old son Alex to suicide in 2016, as she has real conversations with other loss survivors, healers and mental health experts. In these conversations she explores the relevant topics and asks the hard questions we all need to talk about and hear answers to. Nothing is 'off limit' as she delves into areas such a trauma, hope, healing, self-care, stigma, grief & mental health. Melissa believes that we learn to live with our grief ,not get over it, and only through real, honest talk and mindful choices can we move forward in this new life (one we never wanted). Along with finding the comfort of a community and hope for a little brighter tomorrow, you too just may begin to fill your own 'grief toolbox' with some good, solid tools to help you find, even learn to love, your (new) self along the way.

Stopping the stigma

While suicide is very difficult to discuss, this podcast helps listeners to better understand mental health and what it can be like to lose a loved one to suicide. These topics are often stigmatized in our society but conversations like the ones Melissa has are crucial to stopping the stigma. With a wide variety of guests, Melissa unpacks the various tools that can be used to guide one through the grief that comes with losing someone to suicide. Thank you Melissa for having tough conversations and using your own experiences to help others.

Melissa is getting the word out about suicide loss.

It's a terribly tough subject to talk about. Suicide. Melissa does a great job of making it easy to share your experience and your feelings about it. It's not easy being a survivor of suicide loss. She's sharing tools for getting through this life altering event.

A light in the Darkness

Melissa is doing incredible work allowing those who are in their darkest times to feel, grieve and sometimes find light even when it may feel "wrong." Weather you've been affected by suicide loss or not you need to hear these episode. They helped me understand those suffering in such a real and human way that I hadn't before. Thank you Melissa!

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the leftover pieces; suicide loss conversations

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‎The Leftover Pieces; Suicide Loss Conversations on Apple Podcasts

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‎Life after suicide loss is nothing short of a wasteland of the leftover pieces of your shattered heart, of your former self. Join host Melissa, a mother who lost her 21-year old son Alex to suicide in 2016, as she has real conversations with other loss survivors, healers and mental health experts.

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Podcast

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You know how when someone asks "How are you?" you just say "Fine," even if you're totally dying inside, so everyone can go about their day? "Terrible, Thanks For Asking" is the opposite of that. Nora McInerny asks real people to share their complicated and honest feelings about how they really are. It's sometimes sad, sometimes funny, and often both. From American Public Media.

You know how when someone asks "How are you?" you just say "Fine," even if you're totally dying inside, so everyone can go about their day? "Terrible, Thanks For Asking" is the opposite of that. Nora McInerny asks real people to share their complicated and honest feelings about how they really are. It's sometimes sad, sometimes funny, and often both. From American Public Media.

On 3 a day.

I started with 2017, and am now in 2020. I've a job and two kids but managing to stealthily work my way through about 3 a day. Nothing terrible has happened to me...yet, but when it does I hope I can lean into all the wonderful guests you've had on your podcast. I've laughed, I've cried and I've listened. Really listened. Which is a new skill for me. My second favourite podcast....I can't cheat on Ear Hustle, but this one is a belter. Thank you team TTFA.

Just wow!

Your podcasts are so powerful and have struck such a chord with me...thank you!

Having prospective

This has helped me massively. I was listening to spark on the calm app as I couldn't sleep one night and I was crying I needed a bit comfort. I lost my partner to throat cancer on 8th Nov 2020 just over 2 months ago - losing someone so quickly as I did changes your prospective on how you live your live. My issue is feeling like a burden - I cry, I laugh! And people think I'm good to go but inside I hurt like hell. Now when people ask I say no I'm not okay! I know it's okay to feel like this generally this is not me and it's hard to adjust to the new me. I would like to thank you Nora as I know it will never go away. But I will learn to live with it .

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‎Terrible, Thanks For Asking on Apple Podcasts

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‎You know how when someone asks "How are you?" you just say "Fine," even if you're totally dying inside, so everyone can go about their day? "Terrible, Thanks For Asking" is the opposite of that. Nora McInerny asks real people to share their complicated and honest feelings about how they really are....

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Podcast

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Real Men Feel was founded to encourage men to allow for and express all of their emotions. We remind men that they are human beings. Producer and host, Andy Grant is an author, speaker, transformation coach, healer, and suicide attempt survivor. See show notes at http://realmenfeel.org. Learn more about Andy at http://TheAndyGrant.com. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/realmenfeel/support

Real Men Feel was founded to encourage men to allow for and express all of their emotions. We remind men that they are human beings. Producer and host, Andy Grant is an author, speaker, transformation coach, healer, and suicide attempt survivor. See show notes at http://realmenfeel.org. Learn more about Andy at http://TheAndyGrant.com. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/realmenfeel/support

Highly recommend

Andy and his guests tackle a lot of really important topics on this show, things that would benefit everyone. Highly recommend.

A Show for Every Feel!

I've been listening to Real Men Feel since the beginning and I think Andy Grant has hit his stride. He is such a skilled listener, has great questions and brings on really relatable experts in their field. I'm really enjoying listening on iTunes when I'm at work. There is always a show theme for exactly what's on my mind!

Insightful, witty & empowering!

Andy does an amazing job at pulling together insight, education and entertainment. Each episode is a gem and gives rich nuggets of inspiration & clarity. Highly recommended!

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‎Real Men Feel was founded to encourage men to allow for and express all of their emotions. We remind men that they are human beings. Producer and host, Andy Grant is an author, speaker, transformation coach, healer, and suicide attempt survivor. See show notes at http://realmenfeel.org. Learn more a...

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Toolkit for people who have been impacted by a suicide attempt

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Preventing Suicide: A Toolkit for High Schools

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Preventing Suicide: A Toolkit for High Schools | SAMHSA Publications and Digital Products

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Parents Explain Suicide | Parents Explain | Cut

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Kids Meet a Suicide Survivor | Kids Meet | HiHo Kids

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We need to talk about male suicide | Steph Slack | TEDxFolkestone

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Talking with Someone who is Suicidal | Kati Morton

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Why we need to talk about suicide | Mark Henick | TEDxToronto

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How To Talk To Your Kid About Suicide & Mental Health | TODAY ORIGINALS

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How to Talk About Suicidal Thoughts: Simple Strategies for Parents and Friends

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How to talk about suicide | Ullakarin Nyberg | TEDxStockholm

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Suicide Awareness Month / YA Books Dealing with Suicide - Chicago Public Library

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Suicide Awareness Month / YA Books Dealing with Suicide by JCLEmmaF - a staff-created list : September is recognized as Suicide Awareness Month, featuring World Suicide Prevention Day (Sep. 10) and National Suicide Prevention Week (Sep. 9-15). Included in this list are YA books that deal with suicide, generally within the topic of illness, mental and physical.

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Depression does not discriminate; it can affect anyone. The World Health Organization reports that close to 800,000 people die by suicide every year. And that number does not include those who attempt suicide or have suicidal thoughts.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, it's important to know that you can find help. It isn't always easy, but there are many suicide awareness resources at your disposal, including these books.

These books offer perspectives from both individuals living with suicidal thoughts and their loved ones. Some are fictional accounts from characters spanning a variety of ages; others are deeply personal memoirs. If you've had suicidal thoughts or been affected by suicide, we hope these titles will help you cope with or better understand suicide and the people who have been affected by it.

This heartbreaking memoir follows Joan Wickersham's attempt to understand why her father died by suicide at age 61. If you've ever lost a friend or a loved one to suicide, you might find it comforting to read such personal firsthand account.

The YA genre has a history of covering themes of mental health, depression, and suicide in a relatable way. It's Kind of a Funny Story is about a teen who gets checked into a mental hospital to confront what causes his anxiety. Ned Vizzini began writing the book soon after he himself was discharged from a psychiatric ward. Vizzini took his own life in 2013, but his words live on to help us better understand anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.

This is another YA novel about suicide, but this time told from the perspective of Lex, a young woman whose brother took his own life. She's living with the fact that she didn't reply to a text that he sent her right before he died.

Everything I Never Told You tells another fictional story, this one set in the 1970s, of a family living through the aftermath of suicide. Lydia's parents struggle with moving on and wonder what could have caused their daughter to make such a permanent choice.

In My Body is a Book of Rules, Elissa Washuta doesn't hold back. Her painfully affecting memoir takes the reader on a journey through her past, reflecting on her experiences with bipolar disorder, sexual trauma, and mood-stabilizing medication that threatened her life. Washuta's unique voice may make you feel less alone or help you better understand her circumstances.

You've watched the Netflix series, but have you read the original book? Readers (and viewers) are divided on this one, but Thirteen Reasons Why offers a narrative about how suicide impacts the living in ways you might not realize.

My Heart and Other Black Holes is a YA novel told from the perspective of a teenager contemplating suicide. While absolutely gut-wrenchingly sad, it offers perspective on why someone so young would consider taking their own life.

Matt Haig is a survivor. If you read his words or follow him on Twitter, you know that he's very outspoken about mental health. His book, Reasons to Stay Alive, is a tremendous resource for anyone who feels like they can't live with anxiety and depression anymore. (Plus, his follow-up, Notes on a Nervous Planet, is due out later this summer.)

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Suicide Awareness: 8 Books To Read To Help You Understand Suicide

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Depression does not discriminate; it can affect anyone. The World Health Organization reports that close to 800,000 people die by suicide every year. And that number does not include those who attempt suicide or have suicidal thoughts. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, it's important to know that you can find help.

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living when a young friend commits suicide: or even starts talking about it

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youth - suicidal behavior - psychological aspects

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psychology; mental health; grief; self help; health; death; death and dying; relationships; family; dying; psychology books; mental health books; self help books; self help books for women; grief books; depression books; grieving; relationship books; self improvement books; motivational books for women; resilience; psychology book; personal growth books; human nature; afterlife; self development books; depression; grief recovery handbook; miscarriage; grief counseling and grief therapy; grief and loss; books on grief

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Living When a Young Friend Commits Suicide: Or Even Starts Talking about It

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Living When a Young Friend Commits Suicide: Or Even Starts Talking about It [Grollman, Earl A.] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Living When a Young Friend Commits Suicide: Or Even Starts Talking about It

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Language is known to have the power to influence people's thoughts, opinions and memory (Ervin-Tripp S., 1967; Jones EF. et al, 1974; Whorf BL., 1956). The use of language and diagnostic labels when discussing mental health problems has been a point of contention in the field of mental health. However, the hierarchy of stigma attached to mental health diagnoses may prevent disclosure and help-seeking, along with impacting on experiences of support (Clement S. et al. 2015; Hemming L., 2018; Huggett C. et al, 2018; Richards V., 2018).

Suicidal experiences and deaths are highly stigmatised. The phrase "commit suicide" carries negative connotations as it originates from the historical treatment of suicide as a criminal act. However, this conflicts with the now legal status of suicide across the majority of countries worldwide. As a result, the phrase "commit suicide" is being actively discouraged in the media and academia (Freeman K., 2015; Maple M. et al, 2009; Mishara BL. et al, 2016).

Phrases such as "died by suicide" and "took one's own life" have been suggested as alternatives to "commit suicide". However, such phrases carry their own critique, e.g. "died by suicide" may remove a person's agency in suicide and "took one's own life" excludes the term suicide (Galasiński D. 2017, 2018). Therefore, choosing which language to use when describing suicidal experiences and death needs to be approached with careful consideration, but to date there is little research to guide this.

The present study by Padmanathan et al (2019) therefore aimed to:

...explore the views of people affected by suicide with regard to language used in relation to suicidal behaviour.

Methods

The authors, some of whom had been personally affected by suicide, designed and distributed an anonymised online survey (via SurveyMonkey) which comprised of 33 Likert-style scale questions. Participants were asked to rate phrases relating to suicidal behaviour or self-harm, where the person either had or had not died, on a 5-point scale from 1 ("not acceptable") to 5 ("acceptable"). The authors did not describe how they chose the phrases relating to suicidal behaviour or self-harm used in the survey. Participants were asked which descriptors from a drop-down list were most and least appropriate for describing suicidal behaviour and death. Participants were also given the opportunity to explain their answers and provide alternative via free text responses.

The authors promoted the online survey widely through their own academic networks, along with lived experience and charitable organisations in the United Kingdom (UK), Australia and United States of America (USA) via a combination of email, social media and organisation websites. The authors aimed the survey at people who were over 18 and had been affected by suicide. People were considered to have been affected by suicide if they or someone they knew had experienced thoughts of suicide or attempted suicide, or if anyone they knew had died by suicide.

Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive analysis. Qualitative data generated by free text responses to the most and least appropriate phrases were analysed using thematic content analysis.

Results

Of the 2,719 responses to the online survey, 1,679 (61.8%) were complete. The most common way in which participants had been affected by suicide was through knowing a close friend or relative who had attempted or died by suicide (n=879; 52.4%).

'Non-fatal' suicidal behaviour

Participants selected "attempted suicide" as the most appropriate phrase to use (median=4; IQR=3-5). Participants stated that they perceived the phrase to be accurate, clear, neutral, to the point and reflected intention and seriousness of the behaviour.

"Near Miss" was deemed the least appropriate (median=1; IQR=1-2) phrase by participants. Participants most commonly described this phrase as downplaying the seriousness of the behaviour and felt the phrase was insensitive, disrespectful and did not reflect suicidal intent. Also, some suggested that it implies failure, which could lead to further suicidal behaviour.

'Fatal' suicidal behaviour

Participants selected "took their own life" (median=5; IQR=4-5) and "died by suicide" (median=5; IQR=3-5) as the most appropriate phrases to use. Participants thought that "took their own life" was softer in tone, descriptive, reflected an individual's agency, and was preferred as it omitted the word suicide.

"Topped themselves" (median=1; IQR=1-1) and "successful suicide" (median=1; IQR=1-2) were deemed the least appropriate. Participants described "successful suicide" as inappropriately framing suicide in a positive light, which could encourage suicide. Further, those bereaved by suicide found the term insensitive and distressing.

Participants had conflicting views about the appropriateness of "committed suicide". People who had been "affected by suicide through someone they knew" had the most varied opinions (median=3; IQR = 1-5). However, people who found the phrase acceptable, tended to have been "affected by suicide solely through their own experiences" (median=4; IQR = 3-5), whereas, "those whose experience of suicide was was exclusively through work or volunteering" found the phrase unacceptable (median=2; IQR = 1-3).

Participants who favoured using the phrase "committed suicide" did not agree with the association with criminality and described the phrase as widely used, neutral and accurate.

Participants who found the phrase "committed suicide" to be unacceptable most commonly thought this due to the implication of it being a criminal act. Further, some viewed the phrase as outdated.

Alternative phrases

Of the 1,679 responses, 188 suggested alternative phrases to describe suicidal behaviour and death:

Phrases that include a statement which reflects the intention of the individual: "chose to" or "decided to". Although some disagreed with such phrases as they believed it suggested the person had free will over their actions.

Describing "underlying cause of death within the phrase rather than the method". Some ideas comprised of "died by brain disease", "mental illness", "hopelessness" or "family rejection".

Some participants felt that the term "suicide" should not be avoided, arguing that this could be dangerous and may make it even harder for people to seek support with suicidal thoughts.

Conclusions

The current paper examined the opinions of people affected by suicide about phrases to describe suicidal behaviour. Overall, it appears that opinions are varied and need to be considered in context of individual experiences.

The phrase "commit suicide" seemed to divide opinions the most. However, the majority of participants deemed the following phrases as most acceptable:

"attempted suicide",

"took their own life",

"died by suicide" and

"ended their life".

The authors suggest that "academic and media guidelines should therefore promote the use of these phrases".

Strengths and limitations

The authors should be commended for involving people with lived experience of suicide in all stages of the study; this is a great example of how suicide research can be co-produced. Further, obtaining views about suicide-related language from people affected by suicide is essential as they could be the people most affected by choice of language in talking about suicide.

In the first study of its kind, a range of opinions were captured by using mixed-methods in a large sample size across several countries. However, the authors have acknowledged that suicide reporting guidance may differ across countries and so may have influenced the sample. Conducting studies which focus on one country at a time may help to tease out different views which may be culture specific and therefore carry more ecological validity.

It appears that no detail was provided as to how the phrases about suicidal behaviour were chosen. This should be considered as a limitation. Arguably, providing participants with pre-specified phrases limits the richness of opinions by people affected by suicide. It is also unknown how extensively the chosen phrases were used. It could be that phrases, such as, "commit suicide" were more familiar, which may provide some explanation as to the divided opinion of this phrase. Therefore, a more in-depth qualitative exploration would not only provide rigour to the current qualitative method and analysis, but could better inform the development of the survey. Future research could carry out individual and/or focus group interviews to identify phrases used to describe suicidal behaviour or self-harm and explore which phrases were most and least appropriate, along with the reasons for these choices.

There was some bias introduced through attrition as people with incomplete scores were "more likely to be younger, male, living in non-English speaking countries and more likely to have a lower level of education compared to those with complete quantitative responses." However, the authors attempted to account for this by firstly conducting a descriptive analysis with complete quantitative data only and then conducting a sensitivity analysis including both complete and incomplete quantitative responses. Despite such efforts to account for bias introduced by attrition, the overall sample was over-represented by younger females with higher levels of education, which limits the views to this particular demographic. This representation issue talks to the notion that men find it harder to talk about suicide and therefore may be hesitant to openly identify themselves as someone affected by suicide for the purposes of research.

Implications for practice

It is important to acknowledge that people affected by suicide have differing views over specific terms (e.g. "commit suicide") and for clinicians and researchers to be respectful of individual language preferences. However, there is also a delicate balance where clinicians and researchers may also want to dispel myths and combat stigma, which may be perpetuated by the continued use of phrases such as "commit suicide". The study does highlight concerns over phrases such as "near miss" and "successful suicide" encouraging suicidal behaviour, which suggests that these phrases should be discouraged.

From the perspective of a researcher in suicide prevention and stigma, I would be interested in what may influence people's choice of language surrounding suicide. For instance, a few participants in the current study mentioned that some phrases were widely used. We know that the media has an influence over attitudes and attitude change relating to stigma (Angermeyer MC. et al. 2001; Sieff E. 2003). So, a potential avenue for future research could be to examine the influence of the media over choice of language in talking about suicidal behaviour and death and the stigma surrounding suicidal experiences and death.

Statement of interests

There are no conflicts of interest.

Charlotte Huggett has conducted and published a research study which examines the experiences of stigma by people with mental health problems. Further, Charlotte is currently the Trial Manager of the CARMS study (Cognitive AppRoaches to coMbatting Suicidality), which is examining the efficacy of a Cognitive Behavioural Suicide Prevention (CBSP) therapy for people experiencing non-affective psychosis and suicidal thoughts and behaviours. Charlotte previously worked as a Project Coordinator on a pilot trial assessing the feasibility and acceptability of CBSP therapy for people on mental health inpatient wards with suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

Links

Primary paper

Padmanathan P, Biddle L, Hall K. et al (2019) Language use and suicide: An online cross- sectional survey (PDF). PLOS One 2019 14(6) e0217473. Doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217473

Other references

Angermeyer MC, & Schulze B (2001) Reinforcing stereotypes: How the focus on forensic cases in news reporting may influence public attitudes towards the mentally ill. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry 2001 24 469-486. doi: 10.1016/s0160-2527(01)00079-6 [ PubMed abstract]

Clement S, Schauman O, Graham T. et al (2015) What is the impact of mental health-related stigma on help-seeking? A systematic review of quantitative and qualitative studies. Psychol Med 2015 45 11-27. doi: 10.1017/S0033291714000129 [ PubMed abstract]

Ervin-Tripp S. (1967) An Issei Learns English (PDF). J Soc Issues. 1967 23(2) 78-90 Doi: 10.1111/j.1540-4560.1967.tb00577.x

Freeman K. Why You Shouldn't Say "Committed Suicide". The Mighty website, last accessed 29 Mar 2020.

Galasiński D. Committing to "commit"? Galasiński's blog website, last accessed 29 Mar 2020.

Galasiński D. Suicide and agency. Galasiński's blog website, last accessed 29 Mar 2020.

Hemming L. A hierarchy of stigma based on mental health diagnosis? The Mental Elf, 5 Apr 2018.

Huggett C, Birtel MD, Awenat YF, et al (2018) A qualitative study: experiences of stigma by people with mental health problems (PDF). Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, research and practice 2018 91(3) 380-397. Doi: 10.1111/papt.12167

Loftus EF, Palmer JC. (1974) Reconstruction of automobile destruction: An example of the interaction between language and memory (PDF). J Verbal Learning Verbal Behav 1974 13 585-589. Doi: 10.1016/S0022-5371(74)80011-3

Maple M, Edwards H, Plummer D, et al (2009) Silenced voices: hearing the stories of parents bereaved through the suicide death of a young adult child (PDF). Health Soc Care Community 2009 18 241-248. Doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2524.2009.00886.x

Mishara BL, Weisstub DN. (2016) The legal status of suicide: A global review. Int J Law Psychiatry 2016 44 54-74. Doi: 10.1016/j.ijlp.2015.08.032 [ PubMed abstract]

Richards V. (2018) The importance of language in mental health care. The lancet Psychiatry 2018 5 460-461. Doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30042-7

Sieff E. (2003) Media frames of mental illnesses: The potential impact of negative frames. Journal of Mental Health 2003 12(3) 259-269. doi: 10.1080/0963823031000118249 [ Abstract]

Whorf BL. (1956) Language, Thought, and Reality: Selected Writings of Benjamin Lee Whorf (PDF). Carroll JB, editor. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Photo credits

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Language matters: how should we talk about suicide?

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Language is known to have the power to influence people's thoughts, opinions and memory (Ervin-Tripp S., 1967; Jones EF. et al, 1974; Whorf BL., 1956). The use of language and diagnostic labels when discussing mental health problems has been a point of contention in the field of mental health.

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Suicide Prevention: Why Talking About "It" Is Essential - Pine Rest Newsroom

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Suicide touches all of us. After cancer and heart disease, suicide accounts for more years of life lost than any other cause of death. However, unlike cancer and heart disease, most of us feel very uncomfortable talking to someone about whether they are having thoughts about harming themselves.

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Talking to someone about your suicidal feelings

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If you're having suicidal thoughts talking about how you feel can be incredibly helpful and a number of people can support you, depending on what you're looking for.
Where to start

At first you might share your thoughts with someone you trust and feel comfortable with - this could be someone in your family, a friend, a teacher, doctor or other health professional.

Try and think about it as just another conversation. Describe what's happened, how you feel and the help you need. It's best to be direct so that they understand how you feel.

Be prepared for their reaction. People who learn that someone is suicidal can be quite shocked and emotional. Just keep talking and together you can find a way through it.

Ask your support person to help you find ; in person, online, or over the phone.

It's important to have support, but if you tell someone about your suicidal thoughts, you can't expect them to keep it a secret. They'll need to be able to help you stay safe and that usually means calling in extra help.

The Talk about it page on this website provides helpful tips on how you can find the words to say how you feel.

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If you're having suicidal thoughts talking about how you feel can be incredibly helpful and a number of people can support you, depending on what you're looking for. At first you might share your thoughts with someone you trust and feel comfortable with - this could be someone in your family, a friend, a teacher, doctor or other health professional.

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When Logan Paul, a YouTube vlogger with more than 15 million subscribers, posted a video to his channel showing the body of a man who had died by suicide in Japan's Aokigahara forest, the backlash was swift. Many outraged viewers accused the YouTube star of exploiting a dead body for shock, awe, and more video views.

Paul later apologized with a message on Twitter, where he wrote, "I intended to raise awareness for suicide and suicide prevention...I thought 'if this video saves just one life, it will be worth it.'" He also took down the offending video and posted another apology on his channel.

Although posting a video of a dead body in the name of suicide prevention and awareness seems like an obvious ethical blunder-not to mention traumatic for the deceased person's family members and friends-Paul had an army of defenders. Reminiscent of how the creators of the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why defended showing graphic images of the show's main character Hannah dying by suicide, Paul's supporters claimed that posting the consequences of a suicide would be a deterrent for those struggling with suicidal thoughts.

As it turns out, the opposite is true.

Posting graphic images or descriptions of how someone has killed themselves can lead to what experts call suicide contagion.

Contagion is the idea that how the media portrays the issue of suicide could lead to suicidal behavior in people, Richard McKeon, PhD, clinical psychologist and chief of the suicide prevention branch at Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) tells SELF. "There is scientific research literature on this that shows that how newspapers, movies, and other things cover suicide can have a measurable impact."

"If the aim is to bring awareness to suicide prevention, that's very different than bringing awareness to suicide," John Draper, PhD, executive director of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, tells SELF. Although he hasn't seen Logan Paul's video and declined commenting on it directly, Draper says that how the media covers suicide does have a major impact. "Media really influences behavior," he explains. "If you're actually talking about and showing specific suicides in some ways that are dramatizing, glorifying, or specifically showing people how, then that has been associated with increasing suicide."

A significant issue, however, is that the media these days isn't limited to mainstream media outlets; social media influencers like Paul draw a large and loyal following, and the way they talk about suicide matters.

There are actually specific guidelines about how to talk about suicide (and how not to) to prevent the contagion effect. These guidelines, called the Recommendations for Reporting on Suicide are specifically for the media, but they're a good resource for anyone with a large audience. The Recommendations for Reporting on Suicide are based on more than 50 international studies on suicide contagion, and they include not using sensational headlines, not showcasing photos or videos of the location or method of death, and not interviewing first responders about the cause of death.

It's also important not to frame suicide as an "epidemic." "[Epidemic] implies that something is so frequent that one could consider it normal, and that that might, for a vulnerable person, decrease their inhibitions," McKeon explains. While over 44,000 Americans died by suicide in 2015, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's most recent data, millions more seriously considered dying by suicide but didn't, according to SAMHSA.

"Obviously, there needs to be attention to suicide because it's the 10th leading cause of death in America," McKeon says. "But we don't want the dimensions of the tragic losses that we experience from suicide to so overwhelm the message that it blocks out the fact that help is available, that people do get through dark times, that there is hope, that people can get treatment for mental health issues and mental disorders, and that people can recover and can lead a fulfilling life after a suicidal crisis or a suicide attempt."

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When Logan Paul, a YouTube vlogger with more than 15 million subscribers, posted a video to his channel showing the body of a man who had died by suicide in Japan's Aokigahara forest, the backlash was swift. Many outraged viewers accused the YouTube star of exploiting a dead body for shock, awe, and more video views.

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How to be someone's connection to the world.
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, help is out there. Reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
When it comes to difficult situations, how do you know what to say without hurting anyone? Most people learn by repeating phrases they've seen others use. What we see in the news, widely spread to millions, might seem OK to use every day.

But for issues like assault or suicide, it can send a message to our friends that we're not their ally.

"Why was I not the sort of person, or why was I not seen as the sort of person, that these women could feel comfortable confiding in? I see this as a personal failing."

When Anthony Bourdain said this, it was about #MeToo and the women in his life: Why didn't they feel safe confiding in him? His takeaway was radical. He didn't point fingers at women or the system.

Instead, he realized their decision to stay silent was more a commentary on his character. Or, more specifically, a sign that the way he'd been conducting himself signaled to women that he wasn't safe or trustworthy.

I've thought a lot about his assessment since he said it and since he's passed. It made me give more thought about how words are mirrors, how they reflect the values of the speaker, and whom I could confide in.

Many, including my parents and friends whom I've known for 10-plus years, don't make the list.

"What have I [done], how have I presented myself in such a way as to not give confidence, or why was I not the sort of person people would see as a natural ally here? So I started looking at that." - Anthony Bourdain

When things go dark for me, I won't remember the laughter they brought. Only echoes of their opinion on suicide: "That's so selfish" or "If you're stupid enough to start taking [that Big Pharma] medication, I'll stop being your friend." The memory replays every time they check in with a "What's up, how are you?"

Sometimes I lie, sometimes I tell half-truths, but never the full truth. Most of the time, I just don't respond until the depressive spell is over.

Words have meaning beyond their definition. They contain a history, and through repeated use in our daily lives, they become social contracts, mirroring our values and the internal rules we expect to live by.

It's not so different from "the waiter rule": the belief that personality is revealed by the way one treats staff or service workers. This rule is not so different when it comes to talking about suicide and depression.

Some words are rooted so deeply in negative stigmas that the only way to avoid their meaning is to not use them. One of the easiest switches we can make is to avoid using adjectives. Other than giving your condolences, there's no reason to have an opinion on someone's suicide. And there's no reason to contextualize or describe it, especially as a news outlet.

As suicidologist Samuel Wallace wrote, "All suicide is neither abhorrent nor not; insane or not; selfish or not; rational or not; justifiable or not."

This stems from the academic argument that suicide is a result, not a choice. Thus, most suicidologists agree that suicide isn't a decision or act of free will.

DOES MENTAL ILLNESS TAKE AWAY FREE WILL?
In the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, mental illness has a component of "loss of freedom." In the most recent edition, "loss of freedom" has been changed to a disability, or "impairment in one or more important areas of functioning." This is said to include the criteria of "one or more losses of freedom." In his essay "Free Will and Mental Disorder," Gerben Meynen argues that a component of having a mental disorder is that a person's ability to choose alternatives is taken away.

In her sensitive essay for the New York Post, Bridget Phetasy wrote about growing up in an environment where talk of suicide was common. She writes, "[W]hat living with someone who threatened suicide really did more than anything was made it seem like an option."

For those in a suicidal mindset, we must understand that suicide comes across as the last and only option. It's a baldfaced lie. But when you're in that much emotional and physical pain, when it comes in cycles and each cycle feels like the worst, relief from it - no matter how - looks like an escape.

"How I longed to be free; free of my body, my pain, my anguish. That stupid meme was whispering sweet nothings to the part of my brain that was telling me that the only solution to my problems - was death. Not just the only solution - the best solution. It was a lie, but at the time, I believed it." - Bridget Phetasy, for the New York Post

Suicide doesn't discriminate. Depression doesn't hit a person once and leaves when circumstances or environments change. The allure of having an escape through death doesn't leave just because someone becomes rich or achieves lifelong goals.

If you want to tell someone that it gets better, consider if you're making a promise you can't keep. Are you living in their mind? Can you see the future and take away their pain before it comes?

The pain that comes is unpredictable. So is where they'll be in life two weeks, a month, or three years down the road. Telling someone it gets better can cause them to compare one episode to the next. When nothing improves overtime, it could lead to thoughts like, "It'll never get better."

But even though some may believe that death in itself isn't better, the messages they share, especially about celebrities, say otherwise. As Phetasy mentioned, after Robin Williams passed, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences posted an "Aladdin"meme saying, " Genie, you're free. "

This sends mixed messages.

Death as freedom can be ableistDepending on the context and reference, "freedom" can be seen as ableist and a spur on those living with disabilities. In the case of famed physicist Stephen Hawking, many tweeted he was free of his physical body. This encourages the idea that having a disability is a "trapped" body.

In the context of suicide, it reinforces the message that there's no escape but death. If you buy into this language and use it, it continues the cycle that death is the best solution.

Even if you don't understand all the nuances around language, there are questions you can ask to keep yourself in check.

Let the desire to be a safe haven for your loved ones guide your words

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death in people ages 10 to 34. It's grown more than since 1999.

And children are increasingly facing mental health issues:

And this will continue to grow, exponentially at this rate, because there's no promise it can get better. There's no telling where healthcare is going. Therapy is highly inaccessible and unaffordable for as many as 5.3 million Americans. It may continue to be so if we keep the conversation static.

In the meantime, what we can do is lighten the burden of those we love when we can. We can change how we talk about mental health and those affected by it. Even if we don't know someone affected by suicide, we can mind the words we use.

You don't have to live with depression to show kindness, nor do you need to personally experience loss.

You might not even have to say anything at all. The willingness to listen to each other's stories and problems is essential to human connection.

"Laugher is not our medicine. Stories are our cure. Laughter is just the honey that sweetens the bitter medicine." - Hannah Gadsby, "Nanette"

The compassion we carry for the people we barely know will send a bigger message to the people you love, a person who you may not know is struggling.

Being able to wake up every day while the world inside your head falls apart doesn't always feel like a strength. It's a struggle that gets harder with time as the body ages and we have less control over our health.

Sometimes we get too tired of carrying ourselves, and we need to know it's OK. We don't have to be "on" 100 percent of the time.

But when a celebrity, or someone revered, dies by suicide, it can be hard for someone going through depression to remember that. They might not have the capacity to battle inner self-doubts and demons.

It's not a thing the people you love should carry on their own. Seeing if they need help isn't in any way overdoing care.

As Australian comedian Hannah Gadsby so eloquently put in her recent Netflix special "Nanette," "Do you know why we have the 'Sunflowers'? It's not because Vincent van Gogh suffered [from a mental illness]. It's because Vincent van Gogh had a brother who loved him. Through all the pain, he had a tether, a connection to the world."

Be someone's connection to the world.

One day someone won't text back. It's OK to show up at their door and check in.

Otherwise, we'll lose more in silence and to silence.
Welcome to "How to Be Human," a series on empathy and how to put people first. Differences shouldn't be crutches, no matter what box society has drawn for us. Come learn about the power of words and celebrate people's experiences, no matter their age, ethnicity, gender, or state of being. Let's elevate our fellow humans through respect.

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How to Talk About Suicide in a Way That Shows You Care

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It's important to keep in mind the language we use to talk about suicide, especially if we're not talking about people we know and care about. The words you choose to use in regular conversations can be a red flag to your loved ones, but you may not know you're using them.

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Suicide: What to do when someone is thinking about suicide

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Take action when you see warning signs that someone is thinking about suicide. Talk with the person. Be sensitive and direct. Urge the person to get help.

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How to Talk about Suicide

If you're a reporter wanting to know about safe messaging for reporting on suicide, check out these helpful guidelines.

For everyone else, it's important to acknowledge the fact that talking about suicide is the best way to prevent it from happening. Our words are our most valuable assets when someone we love is in crisis. Through a caring conversation, we can show someone they are not alone, they are loved, and there is hope.

The fact that talking about suicide is endlessly helpful doesn't mean it's not still difficult to do. A lot of us are nervous about talking to a loved one about suicide because we're frightened we might say the wrong thing. We want to ease your fears. Below are some tips for talking about suicide with the people in your life.

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If you're a reporter wanting to know about safe messaging for reporting on suicide, check out these helpful guidelines. For everyone else, it's important to acknowledge the fact that talking about suicide is the best way to prevent it from happening. Our words are our most valuable assets when someone we love is in crisis.

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Recognizing and Responding to Suicide

Suicide occurs across and within all races and cultures. Within Indian Country, the rates are higher than in the general population. The subject of suicide carries the stigmas of depression and death, the fear that just talking about it will make it happen, and other stigmas, including:

Suicide is a cry for help

When a person decides to end his or her life, there is nothing that can be done to stop him or her

A person won't commit suicide if he or she has children, just bought a new car, or is just having a "difficult time"

The reality is that suicide is preventable, and help is available.
Learn to recognize the warning signs and risk factors for suicide.
How to Begin the Conversation

Before talking with someone you are concerned about, have suicide crisis resources available, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number, 1-800-273-8255 (TALK), or numbers and addresses of local crisis lines or treatment centers. Mention what signs prompted you to ask about how they are feeling. Mention the warning signs that prompted you to ask the person about how they are feeling, the words used, or behavior displayed (signs make it more difficult to deny that something is wrong).

Ask the Question

Ask directly about suicide. Ask the question in such a way that is natural and flows over the course of the conversation. Ask the question in a way that gives you a "yes" or "no" answer. Don't wait to ask the question when the person is halfway out the door. Asking directly and using the word "suicide" establishes that you and the at-risk person are talking about the same thing, and lets them know you are not afraid to talk about it. Ask:

"Are you thinking about killing yourself?"

"Are you thinking about ending your life?"

How NOT to Ask the Question

"You're not thinking about killing yourself, are you?"

Do not ask the question as though you are looking for a "no" answer. Asking the question in this manner tells the person that although you assume they are suicidal, you want and will accept a denial.

Validate the Person' Experience:

Talk openly

Don't panic

Be willing to listen and allow emotional expression

Recognize that the situation is serious

Don't pass judgment

Reassure that help is available

Don't promise secrecy

Don't leave the person alone

Get Help

Share available resources with the person. Be willing to make the call, or take part in the call to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (Talk). The toll-free confidential Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Let the person know that you are willing to go with them to see a professional when they are ready. If you feel the situation is critical, take the person the closest Emergency Room or call 9-1-1. Do not put yourself in danger; if at any time during the process you are concerned about your own safety, or that the person may harm others, call 9-1-1.

Never negotiate with a person who has a gun, call 9-1-1 and leave the area.

If the person has done harm to him or herself in any way, call 9-1-1.

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How to Talk About Suicide | Suicide Prevention and Care

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The Indian Health Service (IHS), an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. The provision of health services to members of federally-recognized Tribes grew out of the special government-to-government relationship between the federal government and Indian Tribes.