We have such an enormous issue w how we discuss suicide as a society. This isn’t a “language control” thing…it’s a – getting it right, thing. We have to develop past the singular change of “you don’t use committed when it comes to suicide.”
If you followed the story that broke a little over 24hrs ago on this slide, we lost a prominent NY oncologist at a major hospital, to a murder/suicide, her & her 4 month old child, while her parents were at the house, & she was locked in the room w the baby at 7am on a Sat morn. Latest reports from interviewing neighbors are that ambulances have been by their house 2x this summer for undisclosed reasons.
I went to search more on this case, & look at slides 1, 2, & 3, & compare them to slide 4➡️. How is “Killed themselves” or “shot themselves” when it comes to suicide, or worse in some of the headline cases, w gory details, better than “committed suicide.” (Slide 4’s headline is at least somewhat responsible.)
The answer is, it’s not. Both imply willful intent, as if everything is always premeditated & part of a plan. How many ppl do we have to lose to suicide, & even murder/suicide, where the story goes: they were happy the moments or day before…you never would have known, before we realize these actions can & often are, a breakdown of neural circuitry. Impulse error messages. An irrational reflex action to overwhelming accumulated trauma, in the moment. We have no idea what led to this…but to blankety announce every suicide &/or murder/suicide as implying intent, is beyond irresponsible & sets the convo back. The headlines should simply be: Died of murder/suicide…or Lost to Murder/Suicide. The rest is to attract eyeballs & it’s disgusting. Write your local publications to share this feedback.
Last couple of slides, some of your feedback on Angus Cloud’s mom walking back her statements abt the death being related to MH. It’s a grieving mom/wife. We have to be sensitive to that. And at the same time discuss those comments & how they my increase shame even if that wasn’t her intent. Sadly many folks appear happy the day of/before a suicide. Let’s work together on the language.