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musicislife

Student
Jun 15, 2018
159
Of course say committed suicide this article is a load of old bollox !!!


Before my brother Jeff died by suicide, I never thought about the language used to talk about suicide. Immediately following his death and for a long time after, I was in shock, so the terms used to describe how he died mattered little to me. But as time passes and the shock subsides, I've discovered that I bristle each time I hear the expression "committed" suicide. Historically, in the United States and beyond, the act of suicide was deemed a crime. Until as recently as 1963, six states still considered attempted suicide a criminal act. This is so insanely absurd to me that I'm not going to expend any more energy on the history of the topic but if you're interested, here's a link.

Thankfully laws have changed, but our language has not. And the residue of shame associated with the committal of a genuine crime remains attached to suicide. My brother did not commit a crime. He resorted to suicide, which he perceived, in his unwell mind, to be the only possible solution to his tremendous suffering. If I was telling you about a friend or loved one who actually did commit a crime, chances are I'd feel at least a little embarrassment or shame on behalf of that person. But I don't feel even the tiniest bit of shame about how Jeff died. Of course, I wish with every fiber of my being we'd been able to successfully help Jeff and that he was alive today. But shame, nope, I don't feel that about my brother. I focus on how proud I am of who he was in his life – passionate, thoughtful beyond words, brilliant, determined and braver than most people I know for enduring his pain as long as he did. Yes, Jeff Freeman was a brave, brave man. As is any person who grapples with deep emotional distress day after day, year after year.

So to say that someone "committed" suicide feels offensive to me, and I'm not easily offended. The offense is in the inaccuracy. With that said, I don't judge people for using this expression – until August 17, 2007, I did the same. But now I don't. And I humbly ask that you consider the same. When you have occasion to talk about suicide, please try to refer to someone dying by suicide.

By shifting our language around suicide, we have the power to reduce some of the massive shame carried by survivors of suicide. If you feel scared or helpless about what to say to someone who's lost someone to suicide, take comfort in knowing that, by changing your language about suicide, you're offering a countercultural act of kindness. It might seem small but the interpersonal and political impact is nothing but huge.
 
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ReleaseMe

I know it's over And it never really began
May 26, 2018
120
Thank you for pointing that out it's terrible how language still attributes guilt to suicide. Out of curiosity, is there another verb you can use with the word 'suicide'?
In German some people proposed "Freitod" (voluntary death, but literally translating to "free death") as an alternative noun. Even that is hard to use because there is no proper fitting verb.

Yes, dying by suicide is better. Still not referring to the action itself
 
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Ln42

Ihm/iai
Jun 13, 2018
125
We are told at work to say........" he/she completed suicide. "
 
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WanderingEremite

Member
Jul 16, 2018
56
It seems best to just recognize a verb form of "suicide." So, for example, "The man suicided."
 
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agreement

agreement

Mage
Mar 26, 2018
544
I've used it sometimes, English isn't my language and sometimes I rely too much on Reverso Context
 
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ge0rge

ge0rge

the satanic mechanic
Jul 29, 2018
651
I very respectfully 100% fully unabashedly am of the direct opposite opinion from the OP, but I think I understand the sentiment. I find it interesting the way language affects its users depending on their lived experience.
 
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Smilla

Smilla

Visionary
Apr 30, 2018
2,549
In my suicide note I plan to simply say "I have ended my life". I don't like the phrase "committed suicide" for the reasons you state, and I don't like "I have killed myself" because while true technically the word "kill" bothers me. Except when my vicious golden retriever tries to "kill" me :).

I think that "he/she ended their life" is the most gentle way of communicating a suicide.
 
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agreement

agreement

Mage
Mar 26, 2018
544
"take their own life" would work too, also in my language.
I like it even better "ended" but it wouldn't work translated in my country.
 
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Mecha Man

Experienced
Jul 16, 2018
230
I don't know, I've committed acts of philanthropy many times in the past. Does that sound bad? ; D
 
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PatKat

PatKat

Meh
Aug 9, 2018
1,027
I agree 100% my note will say ""My life has ended."
 
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Deleted member 847

Guest
In romanian we say "el s-a sinucis" (he did suicide/he "suicided" :)))
 
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Mecha Man

Experienced
Jul 16, 2018
230
In romanian we say "el s-a sinucis" (he did suicide/he "suicided" :)))

I believe it would be about the same in Japanese, except it would be reversed: Suicide, I did : D

Or, maybe more like: Myself, I killed.
 
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Dip

Student
Jul 27, 2018
171
I agree 100% my note will say ""My life has ended."

Or if you want to be marginally more popular you could say "My watch has ended" ^^
 
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Ssname

Experienced
Jun 30, 2018
268
I agree with not using the word "commit". That implies something that is not true. To me saying "took my life" or "ended my life" feels more appropriate.
 
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Tiburcio

Guest
I didn't read the post, but it seems important.
 
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Morning Angel

Useless Broken Wings
Aug 8, 2018
618
I like the term "self euthanasia."
 
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mattwitt

mattwitt

# 978
Jun 28, 2018
2,307
I think the PPH (Exit International) uses the term "self deliverance"
 
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Morning Angel

Useless Broken Wings
Aug 8, 2018
618
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