Expert on the importance of words when talking about mental health

If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 to reach Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or live chat at 988lifeline.org.

June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month and the majority of the more than 5,000 suicide deaths in New York State between 2017 and 2019 were men, according to data from the Department of Health. New York State.

Researchers at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health Canada said talking about suicide is an important step in overcoming the problem and does not encourage people to go through with it. The language we use to talk about it is crucial.

“Language can be hurtful,” said Dr. Allison Crawford, chief medical officer of the 988 hotline in Canada. “When we talk about something as if it’s bad or bad or if it makes someone different, that makes them not part of the common group – which is not part of our collective – which contributes to Stigma. And stigma is one of the main reasons people don’t reach out when they’re in crisis. »

CAMH has published a linguistic guide on mental health. Some of the recommended changes include rewording “commit suicide” to “die by suicide.” The guide said this change makes it seem less like a crime and neutralizes the wording, removing blame from the person. He also recommends replacing the term “suicidal” with “facing suicide”. This is to avoid defining someone by their experience of suicide, as it is more than their suicidal thoughts.

Crawford said that when it comes to having a conversation, it’s less about being perfect and more about being present.

“You don’t have to have all the right answers,” she said. “The important thing is to have that openness and call 988 as a family member for coaching.”