Preventing Suicide

The suicide of a biological family member can increase the risk of considering or making a suicide attempt. Psychiatric conditions can also contribute to suicide.

Talk to someone who may be thinking about suicide and listen without judgement. Make sure they have a safety plan and remove items that could be used to harm themselves.

1. Identifying People at Risk

People at risk for suicide are often in a state of high distress and have a hopeless view of their life. This can be caused by mental health illnesses and by negative social conditions like poverty, racism, lack of educational opportunities and access to services.

Suicide prevention is a complex effort that involves research, clinical work, teaching and influencing policy. Everyone, including students, teachers, mental health professionals and school administrators can play a role in keeping our communities safe.

Identifying people at risk for suicide is critical to reducing suicide deaths. Risk factors include having a history of suicidal thoughts or attempts; knowing someone who died by suicide; having access to lethal means; and having a distorted view of one’s own worth.

Brief, effective interventions are available for helping people live through high-risk periods. These brief interventions can help people by providing options other than suicide, like a safety plan and the numbers of individuals to call or text for support.

2. Building Life Skills

Each year more than 700 000 people die of suicide, a tragic loss of life that can be prevented with political will and national strategic action. Schools can play a significant role in preventing suicide through the implementation of Tier I universal school-based interventions.

Prevention education, including teaching students how to identify warning signs and correct myths about mental health and suicide, is an important part of the solution. These upstream strategies can help to reduce stigma and increase the likelihood of students seeking help when they are struggling.

Reminding students that everyone struggles and most people who have thoughts of suicide do recover is also important. Emphasize that suicide is not a sign of weakness and that most people with suicidal thoughts get better with time, through building resiliency, positive social connections and/or mental health/medical intervention. It’s also important to be open about your mandatory reporter status in class or school-wide discussions so that students know what to do if they witness someone in danger.

3. Building Resilience

Resilience is the ability to cope with and recover from life’s stresses. It can protect people from the risk of suicide and help them thrive in challenging situations.

Many factors contribute to resilience, including family and cultural values, healthy lifestyles, and the support of friends and community. Resilient individuals prioritize relationships and self-care, and embrace the possibility that their experiences can teach them something meaningful.

Resilient people are able to view stressful events as challenges rather than threats. They also have a healthy outlook on life and are able to identify coping strategies that will work for them.

To build resilience, people should try to practice positive behaviors on a regular basis. This could include getting adequate sleep, eating nutritious foods, and regularly exercising. Social connections can be enhanced through community programs that provide emotional support and reduce isolation, as well as through family and community activities. Lastly, it’s important to keep supporting someone through a crisis by periodically checking in or visiting.

4. Creating Supportive Relationships and Community Connectedness

A person’s environment is a strong predictor of suicide risk. This includes factors such as having a friend or family member who died by suicide, living in an area where suicide is common, and having access to lethal means.

Creating supportive relationships and community connectedness can help buffer the impact of risk factors and reduce suicidal behavior. This can be done through social programs for specific populations (e.g. older adults or LGBT youth) and through activities that reduce isolation, foster a sense of belonging, and support emotionally supportive relationships.

Many people at risk for suicide do not seek help because they are afraid of stigma, believe that nothing can be done to change their situation or feel that there is no point in asking for assistance. Addressing these barriers through gatekeeper training, teaching warning signs and reducing the taboo around mental health issues can help people who are struggling find the help they need.