Preventing suicide requires efforts at all levels of society. People can help prevent suicide by learning the warning signs and connecting those who are struggling to support and care.
It’s important not to sensationalize suicide statistics or the method of a person’s death as it can contribute to feelings of hopelessness and re-traumatization for survivors. Creating awareness about suicide can also include encouraging coping behaviors without normalizing it.
Identifying People at Risk
There are many warning signs to look out for, including if someone is impulsive, acting recklessly or seems depressed. If you notice these symptoms in yourself or a friend, talk with them about suicide prevention and get professional help right away.
A history of depression, a previous suicide attempt or a family history are all risk factors. So are significant life events and losses, such as a relationship breakup or the death of a loved one, academic failures or financial problems. Other risk factors include an addiction to alcohol or drugs and a chronic physical illness.
If someone is at immediate risk of killing themselves, call your country’s emergency services number or 000 and stay with them if possible. Removing or disabling access to lethal means is also important, such as guns or medicines. Building skills to manage stress and build resilience is another key preventive strategy. It includes teaching people how to recognize when they need support, promoting community-based self-help tools and fostering social norms that encourage help-seeking behavior.
Building Life Skills
Suicide thoughts, attempts, and deaths have devastating impacts on individuals, families, communities, and units. They can be triggered by mental health problems, relationship break-ups, financial issues, legal problems, drug use, and access to lethal means of self-harm. Effective upstream policies, programs, and practices can foster well-being and prevent suicide by addressing these underlying conditions.
Resilience is one of the protective factors against suicide and it involves a range of skills such as emotional strength, coping abilities, and problem-solving capabilities. Resilient individuals are more likely to seek help when in crisis, making them less vulnerable to the allure of suicide as a way out.
Individuals, schools, and workplaces can nurture resilience by fostering supportive relationships and providing training opportunities such as QPR, which teaches participants to recognize verbal, behavioral, or situational clues that someone is considering suicide and to effectively Question, Persuade, and Refer them for professional help. Community-based efforts aimed at limiting access to lethal means of self-harm, including distributing gun safety locks, changing medication packaging, and placing barriers on bridges, also can prevent suicide.
Enhancing Connectedness
Effective suicide prevention is a comprehensive approach with goals that can be advanced through a variety of activities. The SPRC has identified nine strategies that form a comprehensive framework for suicide prevention and mental health promotion.
Connectivity can be enhanced through social programs for specific population groups, reducing isolation and fostering emotionally supportive relationships. Connectivity can also be improved through technology, such as telemental health.
A leader’s role is critical to ensuring that service members feel connected, prioritize their mental health and are knowledgeable of available resources. The Army’s Leader Suicide Prevention Safe Messaging Guide recommends leaders use caring language, break down myths and stigma, encourage help-seeking behaviors and support service members during crisis.
The NIMH Infographic on Warning Signs of Suicide presents behaviors and feelings that may indicate the need for help. This information can be shared with colleagues, family and friends. It’s a great way to educate and inspire others to take action.
Providing Support
Providing support includes helping people develop what’s known as a safety plan. Research has shown that this can help reduce suicide risk. It’s often created by a mental health provider and at-risk person together, but friends or family members can do it, too. The plan identifies potential triggers and warning signs of a crisis, as well as people they feel comfortable reaching out to for help. It also lists ways to distract themselves during a suicidal episode and what to do if they start having thoughts.
It’s also important to help people remove access to potentially lethal means of suicide, such as a firearm or pills. It’s also important to encourage people at-risk to seek professional help.
Keeping in touch and supporting people over the long term can also reduce suicide risk. That might include regularly checking in with them over the phone, email or text and visiting them when they’re in a safe place.