Stop painting suicide as a selfish crime, media told

THE phrase “commit suicide” should not be used, as mental health issues are not a crime, leading figures have said.

Celebrities, clinicians and politicians have signed an open letter urging editors to re-evaluate the way suicide is portrayed in the media and to avoid “outdated language and stereotypes”. The letter, published to mark World Suicide Prevention Day, describes the impact reports of suicide can have on the vulnerable, highlighting how much young people especially are influenced by what they see and hear in the media.

“We still read that a person has ‘committed suicide’, suggesting suicide is a sin or a crime, or both,” the letter states. “It has not been a crime in the UK since 1961. This form of words can imply that to take one’s own life is a selfish, cowardly, criminal or irreligious act, rather than a manifestation of extreme mental distress and unbearable pain. It adds to the stigma and feelings of shame that prevent people reaching out for help.”

The letter, written by Luciana Berger MP and Telegraph columnist Bryony Gordon, has been signed by 150 broadcasters, writers and campaigners including Stephen Fry, Richard Curtis, David Harewood and Emily Maitlis.

It warns reports of celebrity deaths carry greater risk of encouraging others, noting there was a 10 per cent increase in people taking their own lives following the suicide of Robin Williams, the American actor.

It adds: “We should not describe a suicide as easy, painless, quick or effective; we should look at the long-term consequences … there is a huge job to be done to educate the public: to tackle taboos; to break down stereotypes; to report on suicide in a responsible manner. Suicide is preventable; we can reduce the number of people who take their own lives.”