The Word on Record
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💚 Have you been empathetic this month?

💚 Have you been empathetic this month?

How we must promote respectful language all year long

Verónica Lawson Vilches
September 08, 2023

The newsletter that explores the art of storytelling, effective communication strategies, and the everyday impact we can create 🧚‍♀️

Buongiorno, Bonjour, Hola, Hello

Trigger warning: Suicide and mental health

September is Suicide Awareness Month.

Suicide is a whispered word we tend to ignore until it somehow affects us.

We need to talk about it, and we MUST break the stigma so people can seek the help they deserve.

❝

Please know that asking for help is a sign of strength — not weakness.

In this edition we will be setting the record straight on…

1. Communication Around Suicide Awareness Month

2. LinkedIn Audio Event with Berta Santos

3. Verónica’s News

Why Mindful Communication is Important

Talking about mental health is not attention seeking.

People suffer in silence everyday due to this judgement.

We need to talk about it because:

→ Suicide is the 10th biggest cause of death worldwide.
→ It is the 4th biggest cause of death amongst 15-29 year-olds.
→ The global suicide rate is over 2x as high among men than women.
→ Suicide rates are high within vulnerable groups who are subjected to discrimination.
→ An individual suffering with depression is 20x more likely to die by suicide than someone without the disorder.

“I’m tired” can mean so much more than not having a good night’s rest.

Making sure we are mindful about our communication is important because it reduces the stigma surrounding the issue of mental health, making it more likely people will seek out help.

By promoting understanding and preventing misunderstandings, we can create environments where people feel heard and valued.

Communication also plays an important role in identifying individuals at risk and connecting them to resources as quickly as possible.

How to promote respectful language

Here are a few key words and phrases to be mindful about:

“Commit Suicide”
💡 Suicide is not criminal behavior. This expression stigmatizes and can alienate individuals who are experiencing these thoughts.
“Sharing is attention-seeking”
💡 No. If someone shares their mental health struggles with you, it’s a cry for help. Saying this can discourage them from seeking help. If an individual decides to speak out about their struggles and wants to tell their story, it’s a way to break the stigma and help those who are silently struggling.
Words like insane or crazy
💡 These words reinforce stereotypes and biases against individuals who are struggling with their mental health. It also dehumanizes the individual and shows a lack of empathy.
“I’m so depressed”
💡 Using strong phrasing like this when referring to everyday challenges trivializes the experience of those dealing with clinical depression.

What to look out for and how to help

Be attentive of phrases like:

“I wish I could go to sleep and never wake up.”
“My life has no purpose.”
“I wish everything would stop.”
“I’m just so tired all the time.”

This is how you can help someone who has expressed suicidal thoughts:

Listen
Validate their feelings
Don’t make it about you or others
Avoid toxic positivity
Assess their safety
Offer to help them find resources
Check in with them

And if someone discloses any sort of difficulty they may be having DON’T use phrases like:

“I understand how you feel”
“Other people have it worse”
“Think about how your family/friends feel”
“Don’t be selfish”

Shame dies when stories are told in safe places.

LinkedIn Audio Event with Berta Santos

Missed it yesterday? Don’t freak out, you can listen to Berta and I’s conversation on how to land your first role in the social impact space by clicking the link below.

Key Takeaway

🧠 Whether it be you are graduating from university or looking at a career change, you can adapt your CV to showcase your passion for the social impact space.

Networking and building your brand on LinkedIn are valuable ways to do this!

P.S. If you are fearful of posting on LinkedIn because you are afraid of how this will be viewed at your workplace or in your career… no worries, we have all been there, and it is a normal feeling.

🗞️ Verónica’s News

I took a mid-week break and went to the Bay of Poets in the region of Liguria, Italy to do some hiking.

Starting from the town of Lerici and ending up in Tellaro, I got to hike along the sea (even took a dip!) and walked around quaint little villages that not many people know of.

Why?

Cinque Terre, a tourist hub, is only a few kilometers away.

Being able to discover little gems and focus on what’s important, such as my overall health and vision for the next few months, was needed.

Abandoned house on the trail

View from Tellaro

Remember to take a breather every once in a while.

The impact of words extend far beyond the page.

Have a good weekend!