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Don’t reduce suicide to one cause. Bullying, job loss, discrimination, relationship problems or another crisis may be part of someone’s story, but suicide is complex and usually involves multiple risk factors.
Choose language carefully. Say “died by suicide,” not “committed suicide.” Avoid framing attempts as “successful,” “unsuccessful” or “failed.”
Ask whether a detail is truly necessary. Methods, locations, notes and other graphic or specific details can increase harm. Being accurate doesn’t require including everything we know.
Never communicate risk without also communicating hope. When talking about suicide, journalists and communicators should also make clear that help, treatment, and recovery are possible — and make resources like 988 easy to find.
Tell more stories about people who survived. We hear many stories after someone dies. We need more stories about people who struggled, sought help, survived attempts and built meaningful lives afterward.
Remember that images are part of the message. Choose visuals that emphasize connection, support and recovery rather than despair, methods or moments of crisis.
More coverage is not always better coverage. Repeated, prominent storytelling — particularly after a high-profile suicide — can contribute to contagion. We should always ask whether another story or post adds meaningful value.
Give people with lived experience agency. Someone grieving a suicide loss or recovering from an attempt may not be ready to tell their story immediately. Ethical storytelling means allowing people time, choice and control over what they share.
Take care of the storyteller, too. Communicators and journalists repeatedly exposed to traumatic stories can experience vicarious trauma. Our responsibility to communicate carefully should include caring for ourselves and our colleagues.
The idea I keep coming back to is this: Ethical storytelling can itself be a protective factor. That gives communicators both tremendous responsibility and tremendous opportunity.
Every headline, social post, photo, quote, and framing decision can move an audience toward greater hopelessness — or toward understanding, connection, and help. That is worth slowing down for.
If you or someone you know is struggling or experiencing a suicidal or mental health crisis, call or text 988.
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