Stop saying ‘commit suicide’, urge celebrities and campaigners

Plea issued to media to be first to end use of phrase that suggests a crime or sin

More than 130 authors, campaigners, politicians, journalists and broadcasters are calling for for an end to the use of the phrase “commit suicide” in a drive to help prevent people taking their own lives.

The letter, issued on World Suicide Prevention Day, says the word “commit” suggests suicide is a crime and suicidal thoughts are a sin.

The signatories say the media, especially editors and producers in news outlets, must take a lead in “changing how the UK talks about suicide”.

Those who have signed include broadcaster June Sarpong, actor and TV host Stephen Fry, DJ Zoe Ball – whose boyfriend Billy Yates died by suicide - screenwriter Richard Curtis, Radio 6 presenter Lauren Laverne, Homeland star David Harewood and London mayor Sadiq Khan.

Others include comedian Shappi Khorsandi, rapper Professor Green, authors Jojo Moyes and Ian Rankin, and MPs from all parties.

The Samaritans and mental-health charity Mind are backing the letter, which proposes alternative phrases to “commit suicide” such as “died by suicide”.

The campaigners praise positive changes in the way suicide has been covered in the media in recent years, but say there is still a way to go.

They want an end to detailed descriptions of suicide, saying that when specific methods of suicide are reported, there is a rise in this type of suicide.

Many newspapers already have in-house rules that block the reporting of descriptions of suicide methods, and editors regularly encourage responsible reporting of the issue.

News outlets are also urged in the letter to avoid speculation on “causes” of suicide, which campaigners say are usually complex and multi-faceted.

The letter points out that everyone – not just the media – sometimes uses outdated language and stereotypes, which “add to the misinformation surrounding suicides”.

Concern about the risk among students is rising. The head of mental health for Universities UK says the university admissions process must be changed to encourage more students to tell institutions about their mental health before they arrive for Freshers’ Week. Prospective students should declare eating disorders and any history of self-harm, he said.

At the same time, a report has found that patients at risk of suicide must be given more support and care, and better integration is needed across the NHS and mental health services.

NHS Resolution, the operating name of the NHS Litigation Authority, said it had found poor support for those with substance misuse problems and inadequate communication with patients and families, along with a lack of a range of services to support individuals.