What's the most tactful way to write/talk about suicide?

Question

At my job I write a monthly news article for my co-workers about issues that we have to detail with at the workplace. Suicide seemed to be a reoccuring issue this past month so I want to feature that topic in my next article.

I don't want to make it seem as though I'm making fun or making light of people who are in a desperate situation, but I also don't want my piece to be a major downer.

The goal of my article is to put a somewhat humorous twist on the negative aspects of the job and boost the overall moral in the workplace. How do you do that with a topic such as suicide?

All opinions and suggestion greatly appreciate as I have 4 days to write this puppy. Many thanks in advance.

I work in a field were we already deal with people who have commited suicide or attempted to. We've got all the info on that, and receive training on how to handle the situation. We just had a lot more cases recently and that's why I want to write about it, but don't know how to approach it tactfully.

Answer 1

Suicide is no joke. so be truthful. Just stating the facts are not so depressing but may be informative about how many other people think about it too. Therefore, you are not alone. Suicide is climbing higher on the scale of Killers of American People. Heart disease #1 and stokes #2 Cancer # 3 and trauma # 4 includes suicide,mostly young people and then second is the older people. Women 6 times more tries then men, but men 3 times more successful. Usually done by middle and upper class adults. The working class do not do it as often, and ethnically those in the working class poor are least likely to do it. Suicide never solves anything, it just takes YOU out of the equation. I mean when did you last hear someone say, "Boy I am so glad she committed suicide." Most problems prompting suicide eventually fade away in a relatively short time, making the suicide decision so much more ridiculous when it is looked back on. The problem is we imagine how people will view us and usually it is wrong, as most people fear their own problems, and are not that into yours to worry you about their opinion. Drugs and alcohol (depressants) are usually involved in the factors that bring on the decision for suicide. Those left behind are the ones hurt the most by suicide, sometimes forever particularly the children of the person who commits suicide. It now puts them at greater risk of their own suicide. When writing about suicide you must be truthful. I am not sure the lighter side of suicice is the way to go but I have been wrong before. Sometimes the opposite of what appears to be obvious (the Sun looks like it circles the earth, but we now know the earth circles the Sun) solves the problem that would not go away. The internet is crawling with suicide prevention information. The websites below are just a few. Good luck with your article.

Answer 2

You could say that some people think about suicide but its really silly to even think like that.... Life is so short anyway. If you figure this life has been around for millions of years and we are only here about 100 years out of 100 million years. We are just a speck and its so short. If we don't like our lives than live for others. Think all day long on how you can make someones life better or a families life better.. After a while the good deeds will circle back around and give you a bite of energy. A new outlook. People think they have such huge problems but if God decided to take our sun away tomorrow than our problems would not matter. It would only be a short time until all life would end. At that point the huge problems would seem kind of small. No one benefits from suicide. Besides many have attempted it and failed and ended up in a wheelchair or a vegetable

Answer 3

I really don't think that suicide is a subject that you have have a humorous twist to it.It you did you will find even though your heart seems like it's in the right place you will be making a few people feel like crap and insulted as you never know who has lost a loved one to suicide and whether or not that they are still grieving.Speak the truth about it,and what people can do to help some one if they are displaying suicidal tendencies ,and the effects that suicide can have on the people left behind after a loved one takes there own life.If you really want to make people at your work feel better don't do an article on suicide,because there is nothing positive to say about a person taking there own life.I hope what ever you choose to write your article on is a success.

Answer 4

Suicide is not something you can make light of. If a co-worler has committed suicide, you should bring it up gently and talk about the effect it has had on yourself and then ask if anyone would like to contribute their own thoughts. . Many companies today have a human services office which may be helpful to you and your colleagues and you could remind them of that and include the phone numbers of suicide hot lines. You just might save a life.You mentioned that this is a reocurring issue. Well, suicide seems to rub off esp, on young people. You may want to talk to some experts as well. Then end with why life is really worth living because of all the funny stuff that will be missed.

Answer 5

You can be informative without the article being a "Major Downer". Mnay of the majore web sites that discuss depression and suicide have lists of things to look out for and how people should behave around someone who talks about suicide.

Use your article to make people aware of what they can do to identify someone who might be displaying suicidal signs. If people pay enoug attention to each other, they can see the signs.

your articel will be information without being a downer. Hopefully, it will inspire others to be helpful or have some idea of what to do if they ever need to help someone. Who knows, you might even help someone who has been contemplating suicide.

If you can't find the resources that I am referring (try www.nimh.gov), let me know and I will help you find the necessary information

Answer 6

its awfull to discuss about suicide, just come to think of it, its scary and horrible. but anyway as you are asking the opinions of others...the tactfull way to write or talk regarding suicide, i may contribute something. the instinct of committing suicide first-there are so many reasons and facts such as family problem, friends, desperation, rejections, bitterness and isolated mind, meaning a loner. you cant predict when or where a person with the instinct of suicidal. you cannot also notice in her/his physical appearance thats she/he are capable of doin it., even her or his close friends and members of their families. ive known a few people committed suicide, some are my friends. surprisingly without any premonition they could commit suicide. as i analized the situation which i mentioned above are the factors. i think the most tactfull way, as ive seen in real is to write. my friend commited suicide and leave a note. stressing all her heartache, bitterness and rejection from the people around her, as she mentioned in her letter. now, you ask how to put a twist on the negative side,,,draw a carricature of different style of suicide, without offending the family of the victims. .with the note on it like this one....this is me, do i look pretty? or any words that you could possibly think makes the carricature light, dont put any offending words.

Answer 7

relies upon who i'm chatting with. If i understand someone is an exceedingly smooth individual who receives damage truly with blunt and recommend issues, I truly ought to purpose to operate somewhat tact into the blunt truth. If i understand someone who's carefully happy with listening to the authentic truth, then i visit inform the reality via the indisputable fact that's without sugar coating. regularly, i'm extra tactful with my close friends and better 1/2 because i do not favor to break them, till they get me indignant. With relations, i'd be blunt. In a debate, i visit regularly in simple terms be thoroughly blunt as long as thoughts aren't any further in touch. As for me, i'd favor someone to have a touch recognize for my thoughts even as they tell me the recommend truth. yet, i'm high quality with listening to the authentic truth because I do like human beings to be immediately to the point with me, it is going to easily damage me somewhat yet i understand the thanks to soak it in. in my opinion, being blunt with a touch tactfulness is how you could positioned out a level, meaning in case you want to positioned out a adverse element, there should be some thing sensible alongside with it to relax the reality. some human beings will flawed a blunt individual as being recommend fairly of being truthful. And being too tactful makes human beings no longer take the reality heavily because they have not felt the intensity of the authentic truth.