Please Stop Saying “Committed” Suicide
By Kyle Freeman
Before my brother Jeff died by suicide, I never thought about the language used to talk about suicide. Immediately following his death and for a long time after, I was so shocked that the terms used to describe how he died mattered little. But as time passes, and the shock subsides, I’ve discovered that I bristle each time I hear the expression “committed” suicide. Historically, in the United States and beyond, the act of suicide was deemed a crime. Until as recently as 1963, six states still considered attempted suicide a criminal act. This is so insanely absurd to me that I’m not going to expend any more energy on the history of the topic but if you’re interested, here’s a link.
Thankfully laws have changed, but our language has not. And the residue of shame associated with the committal of a genuine crime, remains attached to suicide. My brother did NOT commit a crime. He resorted to suicide, which he perceived, in his unwell mind, to be the only possible solution to his tremendous suffering...
Read the full post at Walking 18 Miles in My Brother's Memory.
https://18miles.wordpress.com/2010/05/20/please-stop-saying-committed-suicide/
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