IF YOU ARE OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS THINKING ABOUT SUICIDE CALL 9-1-1 - NOW!

Key Definitions of Suicide

The Task Force has adopted the following terminology recommended in S.K. Goldsmith et al. (Eds.), Reducing Suicide: A National Imperative (Washington, DC: Institute of Medicine, 2002):

"Suicide: Fatal self-inflicted destructive act with explicit or inferred intent to die."

"Suicide Attempt: A non-fatal, self-inflicted destructive act with explicit or inferred
  intent to die."

"Suicidal Ideation: Thoughts of harming or killing oneself."

"Suicidal Communication: Direct or indirect expressions of suicidal ideation or of  
 intent to harm or kill oneself, expressed verbally or through writing, artwork, or
 other means."

"Suicidality: All suicide-related behaviors and thoughts including completing or
 attempting suicide, suicidal ideation or communications."

The Task Force encourages use of the phrase "completing suicide" instead of "committing suicide." The former is more consistent with the understanding that suicide is most often the outcome of a process of debilitation.