Our words matter: finding consensus on evolving and personal language around suicide, mental health concerns and alcohol and other drug use

The words we use to talk about suicide, mental health concerns and alcohol and other drug use matter. They play a crucial role in shaping public perceptions and can reinforce shame and stigma, impact help-seeking behaviours and impede long-term recovery. In some cases, the words we use may lead to increased suicidal behaviour in our communities. This paper outlines the development of new language guidelines with best-practice advice for communicating about mental health and wellbeing, mental health concerns, suicide, and alcohol and other drug use. The development of this new guidance and supporting resources included consultation with people with lived and living experience and from priority populations alongside sector experts and professional communicators in a series of focus groups and surveys in order to understand if there was consensus on what constitutes best practice. The project built on existing guidance about language use, such as the Mindframe program, to deliver updated and evidence-informed guidelines for use across sectors. Not only do the guidelines aim to reduce the harm caused by poor communication, but also aim to ‘do good’. Language that empowers and supports those impacted by mental health concerns or suicide moves us towards a more inclusive, understanding society.