Public figures including politicians, authors and actors are appealing for change in the way the country talks about suicide.

Author Ian Rankin, London mayor Sadiq Khan, broadcaster Stephen Fry and DJ Lauren Laverne are among 130 signatories to a letter calling on the nation’s media to lead the way in transforming how suicide is covered.

The letter, which has been backed by cross-party MPs and mental health organisations Samaritans and Mind, states there should be an end to the use of the phrase “commit suicide”, which suggests suicide is a crime and suicidal thoughts are a sin, even though it has not been a crime in the UK since 1961.

This outdated form of words can imply suicide is a “selfish, cowardly, criminal or irreligious act rather than the manifestation of extreme mental distress and unbearable pain”, the letter states, and proposes the alternative description “died by suicide”.

The letter, whose signatories also include broadcasters Zoe Ball and David Baddiel, film director Richard Curtis, actors Eddie Marsan, David Harewood and David Morrissey, and author Jojo Moyes, is released to mark World Suicide Prevention Day on Monday.

News outlets are urged to avoid speculation about the causes of suicide, which are usually complex and multifaceted, the letter said. Campaigners, who have started a website at www.talkingsuicide.co.uk, also want an end to detailed descriptions of suicide, which can be copied by others.

Research has shown that when specific methods of suicide are reported, there is a rise in this type of suicide, especially among young people. Many media organisations, including the Guardian, already avoid such descriptions and abide by Samaritans guidelines on reporting suicide.

The letter was compiled by mental health campaigners Luciana Berger MP and Telegraph journalist Bryony Gordon.

Suicide is responsible annually for 6,000 deaths in the UK and 800,000 world wide.

Berger said: “The evidence is that responsible commentary and news reporting of suicide can help prevent these types of deaths in the future. No suicide is inevitable. We are calling on everyone involved in the creation of news and comment to help stop suicide by transforming the language and images they choose. In particular we want to see an end to the phrase ‘commit suicide’, which belongs to a bygone era and needs to fall swiftly into disuse.”

The letter says: “We should not describe a suicide as ‘easy’, ‘painless’, ‘quick’ or ‘effective’ and we should remember to look at the long-term consequences of failed suicide attempts, not forgetting the significant life-long pain for those left behind when someone does take their own life.”

It adds that reports of celebrity deaths carry greater risk of encouraging others due to over-identification by vulnerable people. Citing the suicide of US actor Robin Williams, it said a recent study identified a 10% increase in people killing themselves after his death. “This emphasises the responsibility that we all have when it comes to talking about suicide,” it said.

• In the UK the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international suicide helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org.