In short: Can the language we use when we discuss what we call suicide change how we perceive suicide? Is our current perception somehow off the mark? Is there something we’re missing that can completely change the way we perceive and understand the event?
We need to discuss what that language is now and why we should change it. We need to discuss which new language we can use, and, what can happen when we do.
For the thesis, I decided to use the collective first person, “we” because: I entered the conversation in December of 2008 when I survived my own traumatic depressive episode, and; the conversation includes you: if not now, it will.
The need for new language concerning what we call suicide was exposed during my own “recovery” (another word I have issue with, but not now), and presented itself with conflicts from everything from “consumer vs. client” to “loss survivor vs. attempt survivor”. (And with apologies; I still don’t understand that one.)
The thesis on the language of what we call suicide states that: by changing the language we use in discussing what we call suicide we can change everything we perceive about the event, the victim and their bereaved, thereby changing everything that happens regarding what we call suicide including; how we approach someone in a crisis; their course of treatment, its frequency of occurrence, and; the damage done to those bereft of their loved ones by the event.
History has only given us phrases like: committed suicide; attempted suicide; failed suicide; the most egregious, successful suicide, and; the bluntest and most off the mark of phrases, “He chose to kill himself”.
But is that right? Is that fair?
Is that accurate?
Is this really a choice or is there some other force afoot?
Is there an illness, a disease; responsible for what we are seeing?
Can what is alleged to be an act, actually be a symptom?
It’s up to you to decide what you think.
Because nobody actually knows; because nobody can actually give a definitive answer; because everyone is entitled to an informed opinion, it’s up to you to decide what you think.
I will only make the case.
No one has to ask about the difference between the lungs and the air; no one has to ask about the difference between the heart and the blood; but when it has to do with the difference between the brain and the mind, it’s not quite as simple.
In the end, it will be up to you to decide what you think.
And that’s the point: if we change the language we use to discuss what we call suicide, can we change what we think about what we call suicide?
Can language changing the event from a thoughtful, purposeful act to an event that happens to someone make that much difference? Can that be true?
Hopefully, that idea strikes a chord with you.
Hopefully, if it does strike a chord with you, you’ll bump into a situation where changing the words you use changes someone else’s perception of what we call suicide.
And we won’t call it suicide any more.
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