Everyone has a role to play in preventing suicide. The key to preventing suicide is connecting people with help and support.
Understanding the warning signs and risk factors can help you recognize when someone is at risk for suicide. Risk factors include a history of depression and other mental illnesses, hopelessness, drug and alcohol abuse, some health conditions, and losses or failures (such as the death of a loved one or a job). Protective factors include social connections and hope.
Identifying People at Risk
Suicide is often a hidden problem, resulting in a stigma that prevents people from seeking help. A range of factors at the individual, relationship, community, and societal level can increase or decrease suicide risk.
Some groups experience more negative social conditions than others, which increases their risk for suicide. These are known as health disparities. Examples include people who live in rural areas, veterans, middle-aged adults, and people of color.
Identifying those at risk is an important step in prevention. People who are at risk may be able to benefit from interventions that address these factors. One example is the Columbia Protocol, which asks questions to screen for suicide risk. It is simple to use and has been shown to be effective. Other strategies include teaching warning signs, training gatekeepers (e.g., family members and friends, teachers and school staff, law enforcement, and military commanders), and establishing care coordination and continuity of services for people at risk.
Reaching Out
Everyone has a role in preventing suicide. We need people from all backgrounds to work together and create strong, healthy individuals, families, and communities.
Reaching out can be a great way to reconnect with someone you love or help them find the support they need. But before you take that step, think about why. Is it because you think you should, or because it fits your idea of what a good person does? If so, it might be better to back off.
When you talk to someone, it’s important to let them know how much they mean to you and how devastated you would be if they ever hurt themselves or committed suicide. You can also offer to help them find the help they need and encourage them to call a hotline. You can also reduce their access to lethal means by reminding them to store medications safely and reducing easy access to firearms. These are things you can do in your own community.
Getting Help
Getting help can be a challenge, especially for people who may not realize they need it. Education about symptoms, warning signs and available resources can encourage people to seek help.
Those struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts need to be reminded that they don’t have to struggle alone. Providing information about local mental health and crisis hotlines, community organizations that offer counseling on a sliding fee scale, and employers’ employee assistance programs can help people access the care they need.
If someone has expressed suicide thoughts or attempted suicide in the past, it is important to take them seriously and not assume that they will not try again. They should not be left alone, and you should remove from their reach anything that could be used to harm themselves. You should also stay with them or arrange for someone else to be present and keep an eye on them. This can be the difference between life and death.
Taking Care of Yourself
Many people who commit suicide have a mental health condition such as depression or anxiety. It is important to take these conditions seriously and seek treatment when needed.
Supportive relationships and community connectedness can also help protect individuals against suicide despite the presence of risk factors in their lives. You can enhance these protective factors by creating social programs for particular population groups or fostering connections through activities that reduce isolation and foster emotionally supportive relationships.
It is important to remember that thoughts and actions are two different things. Suicidal thoughts do not need to become a reality – waiting can help put some distance between them. In addition, removing access to lethal means can go a long way toward preventing suicide.
Taking care of yourself is one of the most effective ways to prevent suicide. This can include eating well, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly. It can also mean avoiding places, people, or situations that trigger feelings of hopelessness or despair.