In the days and hours before people kill themselves, there are often clues or warning signs. These include a sudden withdrawal from friends and family, changes in eating or sleeping patterns, talking about or planning suicide, giving away personal items and access to lethal weapons like guns, pills and kitchen utensils.
Depression
Depression is a common mental health disorder that often goes undiagnosed. Symptoms can include persistently low mood that lasts for two weeks or more, loss of interest in activities, weight loss or gain, trouble sleeping and/or insomnia, suicidal thoughts or actions and/or feelings of hopelessness and despair.
It’s important to keep in mind that teens are prone to mood swings, so the depression they experience may come and go. However, it is also important to seek treatment for these symptoms to prevent them from getting worse.
Major psychiatric disorders, including anorexia nervosa, schizophrenia and major depression are associated with higher suicide rates. It is particularly dangerous to combine these conditions with substance abuse or self-harming behaviors. The comorbidity of these disorders can greatly increase suicide risk in youths.
Anxiety
Suicidal thoughts and acts are a sign of a serious mental illness, which requires professional help. People who have suicidal thoughts or a history of suicide attempts should not be left alone, especially young people. If a friend or family member is having these thoughts, talk with them about the issues they are facing and encourage them to seek treatment.
A hierarchical multiple regression examined whether anxiety symptomatology predicts parent-reported suicidal talk or behavior, controlling for depressive symptomatology. The regression results indicated that higher levels of youth-reported anxiety symptomatology independently predicted parent-reported suicidal talk and behavior, beyond the relationship accounted for by depressive symptoms. Emotion dysregulation and distress tolerance also predicted suicidal ideation.
Family Issues
Family issues can lead to depression and may increase a child’s risk of suicide. Emotional and physical abuse, neglect, a sense of being misunderstood or devalued by parents, and conflicts between siblings can contribute to feelings of hopelessness and suicidal thoughts.
Kids who are bullied face higher suicide risks, as do teens who bully others. Bullying can cause physical symptoms such as a headache, stomach ache or insomnia, and it also causes a feeling of being trapped.
Watch for warning signs that a young person might be thinking of suicide, such as becoming more withdrawn or socially isolated, sleeping more or less, eating differently, and using drugs, alcohol or media in ways that are dangerous. A person who is at risk of suicide needs help right away.
Relationship Issues
Many suicides occur in the context of conflict with family, boy/girl friend or other significant figure. When the person believes they are being ignored, blamed and insulted by the people they depend on for emotional support, it can increase the likelihood of a suicide attempt.
A history of a prior suicide attempt, alcohol and drug abuse, getting into trouble with the law or engaging in high-risk behaviors can also lead to suicidal behavior. A mental health professional can help a youth assess his or her level of risk and make a plan to prevent a suicide attempt.
School-based programs such as TRAILS have been shown to reduce teen suicide by equipping school staff with proper risk assessments and training to connect young people with outside mental health professionals. In addition, a growing number of programs are addressing the cultural factors that can influence suicide risk in different populations.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse can lead to a variety of mental health issues, including depression and suicidal thoughts. One study found that people who have been abused in childhood are more than twice as likely to attempt suicide.
Some of these individuals may not seek help due to the shame and stigma associated with this type of abuse. They also may not be able to articulate the experience or do not realize it was a form of abuse.
Another study found that a history of CSA was a significant predictor of suicide behaviors, including suicidal ideation and attempts. This research suggests that training for professionals could enhance their abilities to support disclosure and help CSA victims heal and recover. This may be particularly important for services that are not specifically geared toward the treatment of CSA.