Suicide is a national public health concern that affects people from all backgrounds. Whether it’s the suicide of a celebrity, a close friend or a neighbor, every death is tragic.
Asking a person directly if they are having thoughts of suicide reduces, rather than increases, their risk. Also, helping to remove access to lethal means of self-harm can save lives.
1. Know the Warning Signs
There are some behaviors that are red flags to look out for that indicate someone may be considering suicide. These include talking about wanting to kill themselves, making preparations like writing a will or funeral plans, giving away cherished possessions, sleeping more or less than usual, acting anxious or agitated, withdrawing from friends and family or displaying signs of depression. Other risk factors can include legal or financial problems, severe emotional distress and abuse, impulsivity, or a history of substance use.
Four out of five people who are considering suicide give some warning sign, so it is important to always take any mention of wanting to kill yourself seriously. Other factors that can increase suicide risk are the death of a loved one, relationship changes, financial difficulties, severe stressors and legal troubles. Gender, age, and a history of psychiatric disorders can also impact suicide risk. Protective factors can include strong social support, access to mental health care and coping skills.
2. Reach Out
Taking action can help those who are suffering from suicide. Some strategies include teaching coping and problem-solving skills to reduce suicidal thoughts, expanding access to temporary assistance programs, and lowering barriers to seeking care such as culturally appropriate methods for help-seeking and navigating mental health services.
A person who is considering suicide should never feel isolated or alone, so it’s important to be there for them and take any statements about self-harm seriously. It’s also crucial to ask them if they have any plans for suicide and to remove or limit access to lethal means of harm, such as medications, knives, razor blades, firearms or other weapons.
Connecting them to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and other immediate support systems can be crucial. It’s important to follow up with them, too. Studies show that supportive, ongoing contact can significantly decrease a person’s risk for suicide. Providing reminders about help-seeking resources can be especially helpful, and a talk therapy called dialectical behavior therapy has been shown to reduce suicide risk in people who have considered killing themselves.
3. Be Proactive
Proactive people understand that they have a choice in how they react to life events. They don’t blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their actions. Instead, they proactively look for ways to change their situation and take responsibility.
Reducing suicide risk requires preventing individuals from accessing lethal means. This can be done by educating families on safe storage of firearms and medications, and by changing medication packaging and installing barriers on bridges.
In addition, creating a safety plan that provides instructions for how to respond to suicidal thoughts can reduce the risk of harming oneself. And, research shows that maintaining contact with those at risk by telephone or other methods has also been shown to be helpful. This may include sending a postcard or other reminder of your support and continuing to encourage positive lifestyle changes, including healthy eating, getting enough sleep, and physical activity. Follow-up also helps to decrease suicide risk. (Resources available at 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).)
4. Keep Yourself Safe
If you have concerns about a friend or loved one who has been talking about suicide, or is acting in ways that suggest they may be at risk, do not try to play down the situation. It is important to take their feelings seriously and act quickly. It is also critical to talk with the person about how they can get professional help.
Dramatic Changes – Skipping classes, poor grades, acting up in school or at home, neglecting chores and other responsibilities, losing weight, sudden unexplained happiness, disinterest in appearance and hygiene, or a drastic increase or decrease in appetite.
Personalized safety planning (with a trained health care provider) has been shown to reduce suicidal thinking and action. Safe home storage of weapons and pills can also help, and reducing access to guns can significantly lower suicide risk. Research has also shown that increased social connectedness is a strong protective factor against suicide, and this can be accomplished through programs that promote community involvement, emotional support, and belonging among certain populations, like older adults or LGBT youth.