@article{ref1,
title="Commit to change? A call to end the publication of the phrase 'commit suicide'",
journal="Wellcome open research",
year="2016",
author="Nielsen, Emma and Padmanathan, Prianka and Knipe, Duleeka",
volume="1",
number="",
pages="e21-e21",
abstract="Background. Countering stigma is a fundamental facet of suicide prevention efforts.  Integral to this is the promotion of accurate and sensitive language.  The phrase 'commit* suicide' has prompted marked opposition primarily due to the connotations of immorality and illegality.  Methods. The study investigated the frequency of the use of the wordstem 'commit', in relation to self-harm and suicidal behaviours, in the three leading suicide-specific academic journals between 2000 and 2015.  Results. One third (34%) of articles published since the year 2000 used the word 'commit*' when describing an act of self-harm or suicide. Over half of these articles (57%) used the phrase on more than one occasion, with 6% using it more than 10 times in the same manuscript. The percentage of papers utilising the word 'commit*' has fluctuated over time, but there is a promising downward trend in the use of this phrase from 33% in 2000 to 13% in 2015 (p < 0.001).  Discussion. We advocate for the implementation of publication requirements regarding the language used when discussing suicide. Whilst we call for collective responsibility amongst academics and clinicians, editors hold a unique position in ensuring that outdated, inaccurate and stigma-laden terms are expunged from the scientific literature.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2398-502X",
doi="10.12688/wellcomeopenres.10333.1",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.10333.1"
}