• Completed suicide – This terminology implies achieving a desired outcome whereas those involved in the mission of “reducing disease, premature death, and discomfort and disability” (J. Last, Dictionary of Epidemiology 1988) would view this event as undesirable. Alternate term: suicide
• Nonfatal suicide – This terminology portrays a contradiction. “Suicide” indicates a death while “nonfatal” indicates that no death occurred. Alternate term: suicide attempt
• Successful suicide – This term also implies achieving a desired outcome whereas those involved in the mission of “reducing disease, premature death, and discomfort and disability” would view this event as undesirable. Alternate term: suicide
• Suicidality – This terminology is often used to refer simultaneously to suicidal thoughts and suicidal behavior. These phenomena are vastly different in occurrence, associated factors, consequences and interventions so should be addressed separately. Alternate terms: suicidal thoughts and suicidal behavior
• Failed at suicide – Like “Failed attempt”, this term suggests that the individual failed and to not be a failure, they must use a more LiFE-threatening method to ensure they die. Living should not be looked at as a sign of failure. Alternate term: survivor or suicide attempt survivor
• Committed Suicide – This term suggests that there was a crime committed and is linked to the historic term of a person being “committed to a mental hospital for the crazy or mentally insane” where all rights are stripped away and many were treated extreme and harsh cruelty, adding to the continued stigma associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Alternate term: died by suicide
• Killed themselves – Though the individual who died, passed by an act to end their intense psychological pain, this term suggests that the brain (an organ), when under severe suicidal distress, makes the person who dies “at fault” for their own death. Just as we would not blame a person who dies by a heart (an organ) attack for their death, it is discouraged to blame the person who dies by suicide for their own passing with the use of this term. In each case, risk factors, behaviors, and intervention/treatment options are available. If and how they are used can play a significant role in the recovery process and enjoyment of LiFE – but not all people have access to, engage in, or follow through with treatment options, leading to premature death for far too many. Alternate term: died by suicide or died from severe psychological distress

NOTE: Any communication (gesture, act, or threat) of suicide should be taken seriously, as individuals who are mentally well and stable are unlikely to make such statements. Helping someone experiencing a level of psychological pain that leads to verbalizing a desire to end their life (regardless of method or statistical severity of such method) should still be engaged with empathy and support. Healing from the risk factors and behaviors driving such statements and the desire to end an existing state of psychological pain is most easily embraced when language and communication style (tone, body language, etc) are non-threatening, non-judgmental, and pro-emPOWERment for the individual. Consider all threats of suicide, a desperate act of ‘asking for help” without verbalizing the need for support through healthy communication. Consider the root cause of the frustration, confusion, and elevated pain. Review the risk factors and behaviors above to identify those that are present and explore options for descalaing, treating, and healing each influence.