Health. Suicide: Debunking the Misconceptions That Make Suffering Worse

In February 2025, a study published in the scientific journal The Lancet reported a drop of nearly 40% in the suicide rate worldwide between 1990 and 2021. A few days later, the Drees, via the National Suicide Observatory showed the opposite trend: in France, the rate is rising again.

In 2022, 9,200 people took their own lives, or 13.4 suicides per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 13 the previous year. A reversal of the trend after more than thirty years of continuous decline since the mid-1980s.

So many clumsy tributes linked to a lack of understanding of suicide

MP Olivier Marleix took his own life on July 7. Quickly, on the X network, one could read: " On Sunday, a smiling Olivier Marleix inaugurated several projects in his constituency, the next day he committed suicide: it doesn't add up. ", published an Internet user on the X network. Or again: " Since when do people commit suicide without leaving a note for their loved ones? »

The comments are rife, as unfounded as they are damaging. Faced with this wave of misconceptions, often fueled by conspiracy theories, clumsy tributes, and disrespectful statements, Dr. David Masson—psychiatrist and medical director of the CURe Grand-Est Lorraine psychosocial rehabilitation center, author, and popularizer of mental health—has chosen to speak out on X to reestablish some truths.

" Between trivialization, instrumentalization and bogus expertise that abound in this sad news, we must restore some clarity. ", he wrote on Sunday, July 13.

10 Main Misconceptions About Suicide

To do this, the psychiatrist selected, from the flood of comments on social networks, those which crystallize the most false, stereotypical and prejudicial ideas.

Every year, nearly 10,000 people die by suicide in France. That's 28 per day, or about one per hour. That's more than road deaths. This is not a "recent epidemic," but a silent public health emergency.

"He didn't leave a note, so it's not suicide."

The majority of suicides are not accompanied by a letter. The absence of a note proves nothing, but adds to the grief of unanswered questions.

"Suicide is a choice"

It is, above all, the consequence of intense psychological suffering. The suicidal crisis locks one into a dead end where death seems the only way to extinguish the pain. It is not a choice.

"He was smiling, so he couldn't be that bad."

What we see isn't always what we experience. We can smile, even in the midst of a suicidal crisis. Distress doesn't always have a face. This isn't a good criterion for identifying distress.

"He didn't seem depressed, so it's not suicide."

Suicide is common in cases of depression, but it can also occur in other disorders (bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, addictions). Sometimes there is no pathology.

"Those who talk about it don't act on it."

Misconception. Talking about suicide is often a cry for help. Many people who have attempted or committed suicide have talked about it, sometimes discreetly.

"I am not and will never be suicidal."

No one is completely safe: young people, active adults, the elderly...

"Suicide is a selfish act."

In a suicidal crisis, suffering distorts reasoning: the person sometimes believes they are relieving the pain of their loved ones. The consequences are tragic, but never intentionally malicious.

“Talking about suicide to someone who is unwell will give them ideas.”

False. Asking the question doesn't incite action; quite the opposite. It opens up a space for discussion and allows for an assessment of suffering. It's like throwing a lifeline.

"There is nothing that can be done against suicide."

This is also false. Everyone can take action to prevent suicide. Some examples: know 3114 (the national suicide prevention number), talk about it, and sign the petition. Suicide, a mobilization to be able to talk about it .

A long-standing taboo keeps suicide in the shadows. It creates guilt, shame, denial, discomfort, and preconceived notions. These barriers block speech, foster ignorance, and prevent action. They hinder prevention and support for those affected, not to mention those around them, who are often faced with worry or grief.

In light of current knowledge, suicide appears to be a tragedy of silence. Yet, talking about it saves lives. This is why a collective of professionals gathered around the Papageno program is launching this mobilization. With the project "Suicide, being able to talk about it," these experts want to pave the way towards a society where those who suffer find help, and those who accompany them find the right words.

Source : Papageno Institutional Program Website (July 2025); X Network and Dr. Masson's account (accessed July 16, 2025)