I would think suddenly, as in unexpected. If there was a preceding terminal illness then it wouldn't be considered sudden, but a heart attack without warning would be.

Geektastic: Is “died suddenly” in a newspaper report supposed to be a euphemism for suicide that can’t be mentioned or is it supposed to suggest an unexpected heart attack or similar?

I’m confused.

This has been used in a few reports from the US in the past few days - it seems it has been used by the families in their statements - so not specifically a Kiwi euphemism

It can be used for suicide, but possibly also for instances were the autopsy hasn't been completed and no obvious cause of death is immediately apparent 

Clint

clinty:

 

Geektastic: Is “died suddenly” in a newspaper report supposed to be a euphemism for suicide that can’t be mentioned or is it supposed to suggest an unexpected heart attack or similar?

I’m confused.

 

 

 

This has been used in a few reports from the US in the past few days - it seems it has been used by the families in their statements - so not specifically a Kiwi euphemism

 

It can be used for suicide, but possibly also for instances were the autopsy hasn't been completed and no obvious cause of death is immediately apparent 

 

 

 

Clint

 

I am never sure because of the whole "don't mention it" thing about suicide. In the UK, they just say suicide if that is what they mean which at least has the benefit of being clear! Thus I can find it opaque here sometimes.

If they are going to make it obvious by printing all the helplines underneath, I wonder why they do not just use the correct term - surely it fools nobody?!

Geektastic:

I am never sure because of the whole "don't mention it" thing about suicide. In the UK, they just say suicide if that is what they mean which at least has the benefit of being clear!

Geektastic: Is “died suddenly” in a newspaper report supposed to be a euphemism for suicide that can’t be mentioned or is it supposed to suggest an unexpected heart attack or similar?

richms: Look for the copy paste list of helplines at the end if its suicide they cant report on.

As a professional writer and translator (now retired) I am generally pretty good at reading between the lines. When I first came here I was also struck by the circumlocutory manner by which self-inflicted deaths were described. I believe this used to be due to academic advice intended to prevent copycats. I think it has also been enshrined in law, which is why media have been so careful when discussing it. Eventually it was realised that pretending it didn't exist was not helping prevent it and discussion has become more open, though still fairly reserved. Over time I worked out that when a death is mentioned in very abbreviated or coy language, it almost always means suicide. When the helplines are mentioned, that is a certainty.

Rikkitic: I was also struck by the circumlocutory manner by which self-inflicted deaths were described.

gbwelly:

Geektastic:

 

I am never sure because of the whole "don't mention it" thing about suicide. In the UK, they just say suicide if that is what they mean which at least has the benefit of being clear!

 

And the 'non benefit' of increasing the likelihood of suicide in other vulnerable people. Which I suspect you already knew when asking this question.

So if I call it "sudden death" then print a list of suicide prevention helplines etc underneath, you believe that won't give the game away?

Geektastic: 

I’m confused.

Wait till they use "person fatally injured released from hospital" or "Fatally injured person died today"

Geektastic: So if I call it "sudden death" then print a list of suicide prevention helplines etc underneath, you believe that won't give the game away?

gzt:

richms: Look for the copy paste list of helplines at the end if its suicide they cant report on.

Is this one really the case? I'd like to see an example for this specifically. I'm pretty sure I haven't seen this combination.

Like this one?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/celebrities/300055431/lisa-marie-presleys-son-elvis-presleys-grandson-benjamin-keough-dies-age-27

gzt:

richms: Look for the copy paste list of helplines at the end if its suicide they cant report on.

Is this one really the case? I'd like to see an example for this specifically. I'm pretty sure I haven't seen this combination.

I see it all the time, here for example -

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/121497895/family-of-auckland-butcher-who-died-suddenly-say-covid19-restrictions-added-to-burden