{"id":34875,"date":"2017-05-29T06:00:29","date_gmt":"2017-05-29T13:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/?p=34875"},"modified":"2026-02-13T19:50:37","modified_gmt":"2026-02-14T00:50:37","slug":"talking-and-writing-about-suicide-why-it-matters-what-to-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/talking-and-writing-about-suicide-why-it-matters-what-to-say-0529177","title":{"rendered":"Talking and Writing About Suicide: Why It Matters, What to Say"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"TwoIn 2017, the suicide<\/a> rate reached a 33-year high. Suicide is now the second-leading cause of death among teenagers, and an American dies by suicide every 12.8 minutes.<\/p>\n

Deaths by suicide are often surrounded by unanswered questions. Those left behind may feel a combination of grief<\/a>, guilt<\/a>, anger<\/a>, and confusion. People experiencing suicidal thoughts often struggle to feel heard. Myths about suicide, such as the idea that talking to a suicidal person can make them more suicidal, are pervasive.<\/p>\n

Suicide is a preventable tragedy. Knowing what to say and what to do when someone is having thoughts of suicide can save lives. The way we talk about suicide matters, and the effects of these discussions extend far beyond conversations with loved ones. Research suggests the way journalists write about suicide can increase the suicide rate. A constructive approach to reporting on and talking about suicide raises awareness and cultivates empathy<\/a> without sensationalizing death.<\/p>\n

Why We Need to Talk About Suicide<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cOne of the biggest misconceptions around suicide is that talking about it will cause it,\u201d said Lisa Danylchuk, LMFT. Danylchuk is an Oakland, California, therapist who specializes in treating trauma<\/a> survivors. She often works with people experiencing suicidal thoughts.<\/p>\n

\n\t

Find a Therapist<\/a><\/h2>\n\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\tAdvanced Search<\/a>\n\t<\/form>\n<\/div>People who talk about suicide are not doing it to get attention. Bringing up suicide can be very difficult, so if someone broaches the topic of suicide, it suggests they want help. Suicide is rarely impulsive, and many people who die by suicide first discussed it with a loved one.<\/p>\n

People concerned about a loved one\u2019s emotions<\/a> should consider broaching the topic of suicide. Initiating a discussion does not implant the idea. Instead, it can provide a safe space to talk about stigmatized<\/a> feelings.<\/p>\n

\u201cGiving people a space to explore their feelings related to suicide often helps them process their feelings,\u201d Danylchuk said. \u201cIt also helps those concerned to monitor the severity of suicidal ideation and reach out for the appropriate support when necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) offers a basic primer on the benefits of talking about suicide. Talk Saves Lives<\/a> organizes brief presentations in communities across the nation to help people recognize the warning signs of suicide and learn how it can be prevented.<\/p>\n

Reporting on Suicide: The Contagion Effect<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Talking about suicide does not cause suicide, but reporting on it might. Articles and stories about suicide can create a contagion effect, potentially pushing people who are already at risk of suicide to more seriously consider it. Suicide prevention experts call this the Werther Effect, named for the novel The Sorrows of Young Werther<\/em> by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. After the 18th century publication of the novel, young men began imitating its protagonist. Some copied his suicide and suicide method. Some areas banned the novel in an attempt to save lives.<\/p>\n

Researchers have observed a contagion effect associated with glamorized and heavily publicized suicide ever since.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have more than 100 studies from around the world now that demonstrate how media reports on suicide impact the risk of contagion,\u201d said Daniel Reidenberg, PsyD, the executive director of Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE)<\/a>.\u00a0\u201cThe more frequently a story is reported on, the placement of the story in a newscast or in print, the more graphic and sensational a story\u2014all impact the audience.\u00a0We know that when suicide is romanticized or glorified, that too leads to suicide contagion. When someone is memorialized in the media, some believe they too will be just like the person they are seeing in the news, and that gives them an identity or recognition that they don\u2019t necessarily feel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reidenberg trains journalists who report on suicide, and he helped develop a list of best practices for journalists reporting on suicide<\/a>. He says most journalists do not understand their role in contagion, yet simple changes in the way journalists talk about suicide can make a big difference. A 2007 study of Austrian guidelines for reporting on suicide found use of the guidelines lowered the nation\u2019s suicide rate by 80% in just six months.<\/p>\n

Guidelines for Reporting on Suicide<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Reidenberg says media outlets tend to rely on stereotypes<\/a> and clich\u00e9s when reporting on suicide, but he cautions that suicide is never because of a breakup<\/a> or a bad grade in school. Multiple factors figure into the decision for someone to take their own life. Reports that gloss over this nuance make it seem like a single bad event is enough to lead to suicide.<\/p>\n

Likewise, reports that focus only on positive characteristics of the person who died can glamorize suicide. People who feel hopeless<\/a> might think they will be remembered in the same way. The same is true for reports that highlight loved ones\u2019 reactions.<\/p>\n

Experts make the following recommendations to journalists reporting on suicide:<\/p>\n