Safe Language and Diversity
Using people-first language avoids stigmatizing words or phrases and emphasizes people while respecting differences and experiences, rather than referring to their actions, conditions, or diagnoses. It is important that language about suicide is careful and factual to make the conversation about suicide safer.
Safe language terminology include:
🍂 � � Die/Died/Death by suicide 🍂 � � Suicide attempt 🍂 � � Attempted suicide
🍂 � � People with… (mental illness, depression, addiction, etc.) 🍂 � � Person who has died by suicide 🍂 � � Person thinking about suicide
People who have experienced a suicide attempt Suicide touches all races, ethnicities, abilities, socio-economic statuses, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, nationalities, religions, ages, and veteran statuses to name a few. All individuals are unique and have intersecting identities. Those unique experiences and identities can affect how people respond to problems, the way they talk about death and dying, and their attitudes toward suicide, as well as how they feel about sharing personal information and seeking help. It is important to acknowledge the different lived-experiences and identities impacted by suicide and tailor your responses accordingly.
Manager’s Guide and Tools on suicide and distress in the Workplace
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