I am a lifelong Los Gatos resident and an active member of our community, including serving as vice-president of the Los Gatos Morning Rotary and other community groups. I am very involved in mental health education and advocacy, including serving as co-chair of Santa Clara County’s Suicide Prevention Intervention Workgroup, although I am not writing on behalf of that group, just as an individual.
In any case, I enjoy reading your articles in the Los Gatan, and found Jeffrey P. Blum’s recent article, “CAUTION: This article contains warnings!”, to be humorous and well written.
At the same time, you reference suicide in the article, with the term “commit suicide.” FYI, this term is not considered best practice when referring to suicide, as it is stigmatizing language. The preferred terminology is “die(d) by suicide” or “take own life.”
This website, created by the leading suicide prevention groups, lists best practices for media when referring to issues of suicide: reportingonsuicide.org
This webpage also provides additional guidance: afsp.org/ethicalreporting, including a video clip by NBC Senior National Correspondent Kate Snow on not using the word commit.
Take care,
Dr. Chris Miller
steinberginstitute.org/champion/chris-miller/
