Why You Should Stop Saying 'Committed Suicide'

The phrase is stigmatizing in a lot of outdated, insensitive ways.

Your words matter, especially when it comes to mental health. One phrase that you may not be aware is particularly egregious? “Committed suicide.”

It’s an expression that many people still lean on, both in the news and in outside conversations. (Take one look at headlines and internet discourse after the deaths by suicide of celebrities or other notable people.)

While the term may seem innocuous, it’s actually laden with blame and stigma. So much so that reporting guidelines outlined by mental health and media organizations strictly advise against using it.

“The term ‘committed suicide’ is damaging because for many, if not most, people it evokes associations with ‘committed a crime’ or ‘committed a sin’ and makes us think about something morally reprehensible or illegal,” said Jacek Debiec, an assistant professor in the University of Michigan’s department of psychiatry who specializes in post-traumatic stress and anxiety disorders.

The phrase “committed suicide” also ignores the fact that suicide is often the consequence of an unaddressed illness (like depression, trauma or another mental health issue). It should be regarded in the same way as any physical health condition, said Dan Reidenberg, a mental health expert and the former executive director of Suicide Awareness Voices of Education.