Like other causes of death, suicide has no single determinant and is the result of complex interplay between risk and protective factors. Research suggests that prevention strategies that focus on both risk reduction and protective factor enhancement are needed.
Help someone at risk by making sure they have a safety plan, removing access to lethal items, and keeping them in contact with caring people.
1. Encourage people to talk about their feelings.
Every day in Ohio, five people attempt suicide. While death may not be the goal of the act, those who do attempt suicide often feel a lot of pain and despair. They also face a lot of physical harm, depending on their means of self-harm or how they did it (for example, jumping off bridges often results in multiple broken bones).
Talking openly about suicidal thoughts and feelings can help. Listening and being nonjudgmental are also important. Many young people who consider suicide give some warning signs that they are at risk, such as expressing hopelessness and feeling like there is no point in living.
Reducing access to firearms, medications and other ways to kill yourself can prevent suicide. Studies show that when lethal means are less available or more difficult to obtain, suicide rates decline. Some methods of suicide, such as hanging, are very dangerous and should never be attempted. It is important to help someone at risk connect with professional treatment, even if they refuse it.
2. Encourage people to get help.
When someone is expressing thoughts of suicide or other warning signs, it’s important to get help. They could need a crisis response, like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) and/or mental health professional treatment.
They could also need help improving their mental wellness and resiliency through psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or dialectical behavior therapy. This helps people learn to better understand their feelings, develop coping skills and change unhealthy behaviors.
Connecting them with community resources and support, such as a mental health professional, a faith leader or community organization, is another way to help. Studies show that supporting, ongoing contact with at-risk individuals can reduce their risk. This can include things like sending them a caring postcard. For more information about this, visit our Follow-Up Matters page.
3. Encourage people to stay healthy.
Research shows that connecting with people who are struggling with suicidal thoughts and feelings helps prevent them from escalating. This can include being physically present, calling or texting, writing a postcard, sending flowers or other thoughtful gestures.
Those at risk for suicide often feel hopeless and see no future for themselves, but there’s no single cause. It’s often the result of multiple factors — including genetics, mental health illnesses, risky behaviors and environmental stressors.
Protective factors – such as a history of family members who have attempted or died of suicide, relationships, faith and coping skills – decrease the chances of suicide. Talking about suicide in a supportive, factual way and teaching about warning signs can also help. Download Language Matters: Talking About Suicide (PDF). Reducing access to lethal means, such as putting barriers on bridges or educating the public about safe firearm storage, can help as well. Research has shown that when highly lethal methods are less available, suicide attempts often decline — although some people may try an alternative method.
4. Encourage people to stay connected.
Increasing social connection and limiting isolation are important protective factors against suicide. Programs and practices that support these factors can be part of a comprehensive prevention strategy.
Loneliness is a risk factor for suicide, and many people who attempt suicide feel alone. It’s important to reach out to those around us, and to be there for our friends, neighbors, coworkers and acquaintances.
Helping someone stay connected can include connecting them with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Hotline or other local resources, as well as helping them connect to family members, spiritual advisors, or mental health professionals. You can also help them create a safety plan for when they experience high-risk thoughts. Studies have shown that ongoing, supportive contact (including caring postcards) can help reduce suicide risk.
Everyday acts of kindness and human connection can be life-saving for those struggling with suicidal thoughts. Your simple gestures might seem insignificant, but they can make all the difference.