Read on Twitter
Content note: suicide
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This is going to be a thread on how to talk about suicide on twitter. Co-created with @drjessigold @KazJNelson @lorawichsermd
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This is going to be a thread on how to talk about suicide on twitter. Co-created with @drjessigold @KazJNelson @lorawichsermd
How we talk about suicide matters. There is tons of evidence of “contagion” from media and print reporting. It is essential that we talk about suicide AND it is essential that we think carefully about HOW we talk about suicide.
Goal should always be to keep each other safe.
Goal should always be to keep each other safe.
(The contagion thing is fascinating and i could talk about forever. Here is a good place to start if interested:
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00031539.htm )
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00031539.htm )
First thing - you need a content note (or ‘warning’- more on that another time. I like to avoid ‘trigger’)
Think practically about your content notice. Give someone space to scroll away. See below for example. Note I could scroll past this without reading the content if I wanted to. Perfect. https://twitter.com/cahillpsych/status/1352088238253604864?s=20
Ok let's get to the big no-nos. DO NOT discuss method, suicide notes. Never frame suicide as a solution to a problem.
This graphic from http://reportingonsuicide.org is pretty great:
This graphic from http://reportingonsuicide.org is pretty great:
Another 'no-no'? "Committed". See this great piece by @lindsaygholmes https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mental-health-language-committed-suicide_l_5aeb53ffe4b0ab5c3d6344ab
Always (ALWAYS!!!) include resources for seeking help. This includes crisis lines.
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
There are population specific ones for veterans, LGBTQ folks, and healthcare workers.
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
There are population specific ones for veterans, LGBTQ folks, and healthcare workers.
Here is @NAMICommunicate 's resource for frontline healthcare workers
https://nami.org/Your-Journey/Frontline-Professionals
https://nami.org/Your-Journey/Frontline-Professionals
Ok, here comes the tricky part - nuance on twitter!
Do not assume you know why someone died by suicide. This is huge. And challenging. Our brains love to create a narrative.
Suicide is complex and is never caused by one thing. Someone did not die because of a breakup or stressful work conditions.
Suicide is complex and is never caused by one thing. Someone did not die because of a breakup or stressful work conditions.
Imagine you wanted to tweet about a death in a nursing home. They had a COVID outbreak and a PPE shortage.
You say "another avoidable COVID death"
COVID might be most likely, but that person could have died of a heart attack.
Statistics =/= diagnosis for 1 person.
You say "another avoidable COVID death"
COVID might be most likely, but that person could have died of a heart attack.
Statistics =/= diagnosis for 1 person.
Physicians have a higher rate of suicide than the general population. You may have theories as to why that is. But that doesn't mean we (or anyone!) can know why any one physician died.
What CAN you say? You absolutely can share how you are feeling.
It is normal to feel sadness, grief, and distress.
It is also a normal human reaction to look for ways you "could have prevented" at tragedy.
It is normal to feel sadness, grief, and distress.
It is also a normal human reaction to look for ways you "could have prevented" at tragedy.
These human instincts ("what could I have done?") are an OVERSIMPLIFICATION that can lead to internalized blame.
It is not ever your fault, admin's fault, co-worker's fault, etc.
Please, please be careful with this.
It is not ever your fault, admin's fault, co-worker's fault, etc.
Please, please be careful with this.
Calls for change are wonderful and welcome!
Approach with curiosity. Approach with compassion. That includes compassion for survivors, for the system, for all of us.
Approach with curiosity. Approach with compassion. That includes compassion for survivors, for the system, for all of us.
It is natural to call for a quick fix - makes us feel like "if we just fix this one thing, I and everyone I know will be safe".
Try to avoid this oversimplification.
Try to avoid this oversimplification.
It can help to pull back from the person and think about the bigger picture.
What does this tell us about medicine in general? About mental health? About trauma?
Should we invest time and resources to #stopthestigma around help seeking and around suicide? YES
What does this tell us about medicine in general? About mental health? About trauma?
Should we invest time and resources to #stopthestigma around help seeking and around suicide? YES
