The behaviors listed below maybe some of the signs that someone is thinking about suicide.
Feeling:
- Empty, hopeless, trapped, or having no reason to live
- Extremely sad, more anxious, agitated, or full of rage
- Unbearable emotional or physical pain
Changing Behavior, such as:
- Making a plan or researching ways to die
- Withdrawing from friends, saying goodbye, giving away important items, or making a will
- Taking dangerous risks such as driving extremely fast
- Displaying extreme mood swings
- Eating or sleeping more or less
- Using drugs or alcohol more often
If these warning signs apply to you or someone you know, get help as soon as possible, particularly if the behavior is new or has increased recently.
Things to Look out for
Almost everyone who has committed suicide will have been given some signs or warnings, even though some of these signs might be subtle. A person might show they are considering suicide in how they feel, talk and behave.
How they feel and talk — signs include:
- feeling sad, angry, ashamed, rejected, desperate, lonely, irritable, overly happy, or exhausted
- feeling trapped and helpless: “I can’t see any way out of this”
- feeling worthless or hopeless: “I’m on my own — no one cares. No one would even notice I was gone”
- feeling guilty: “It’s my fault, I’m to blame”
How they behave — signs include:
- abusing drugs or alcohol, or using more than they usually do
- withdrawing from friends, family, and society
- appearing anxious and agitated
- having trouble sleeping or sleeping all the time
- having sudden mood swings — a sudden lift in mood after a period of depression could indicate they have made the decision to attempt suicide
- having episodes of sudden rage and anger
- acting recklessly and engaging in risky activities
- losing interest in their appearance, such as dressing badly, no longer wearing make-up, or not washing regularly
- rapid weight changes
- putting their affairs in order
- making funeral arrangements
High-Risk Warning Signs
A person may be at high risk of attempting suicide if they:
- threaten to hurt or kill themselves
- possess or have ways to kill themselves, such as stockpiling tablets or buying equipment that could be used to harm themselves
- talk, draw or write about death, dying, or suicide
Risk Factors for Suicide
Someone is at greater risk of attempting suicide if:
- they have attempted suicide before
- they use alcohol or drugs
- they have a mental health condition such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or PTSD
- they are having family or relationship problems
- they are in trouble with the law
- they have access to ways of killing themselves, such as medication or weapons
- someone they are close to has died recently
- they are being bullied
- they have an illness or disability
Feeling suicidal can also be triggered by life events such as stress over a job or money, trauma, a life change such as a divorce, and loneliness and isolation.
Responding to Warning Signs
It can be challenging to talk to someone about their suicidal thoughts, but if you have noticed warning signs and are worried, the best way to find out is to ask. You might be the only person who does ask.
Gender Differences
- Males are four times more likely than females to commit suicide
- Females are more likely to have thoughts of suicide
- Females are four times more likely than men to attempt suicide
- Males are most likely to use firearms to commit suicide
- Females are most likely to use the poisoning to commit suicide
Age Differences
- 1 in 100,000 children ages 10 to 14 die by suicide each year
- 7 in 100,000 adolescents ages 15 to 19 die by suicide each year
- 12.7 in 100,000 young adults ages 20 to 24 die by suicide each year
Treatment:
- Suicide prevention methods and treatment are based on patient risk factors. Treatments are prescribed in light of underlying conditions in addition to the prevention of suicidal thoughts and acts. If you are suffering from a mental disorder, a treatment plan to treat this condition is implemented first. One of the most common suicide prevention techniques is psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy in the form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a common treatment option for individuals suffering from a variety of mental disorders. In this method of psychotherapy, you are taught new ways of dealing with stress and stressful life experiences. In this manner, when thoughts of suicide arise, you can redirect those thoughts and cope with them in a different way than attempting to take your own life.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy is used to help an individual recognize disruptive or unhealthy feelings or actions. In relation, this therapy method then introduces techniques on how to deal with difficult or troubling situations. More research is needed on psychotherapy related to suicide prevention though, as DBT, in particular, has been shown to decrease the prevalence of attempted suicide but has shown no effect on completed suicides.
- Medications can also be prescribed as a prevention method to suicide; however, controversy exists in this method, as many medications used in the treatment of mental disorders include increased risk of suicide as a side effect. Antidepressants especially carry a risk of a potential increase in suicidal thoughts and behavior—but this risk might be dependent on age. Clinical research has shown that young adults increase their risk of suicide and suicidal thoughts when taking antidepressants, but in older individuals, this side effect diminishes.
- Increased awareness among doctors is also a prevention technique. Research indicates that many individuals who have completed suicide or attempted suicide did seek medical attention in the year prior; however, warning signs may have been missed. Increased education and awareness among medical professionals might decrease suicide rates in the future.
- Popular “crisis hotlines” have not received solid data indications in the research that suggest their use is effective or not. Though, one positive side effect of these hotlines is that they are generally well-known which increases the general population’s awareness of suicide. In an additional effort to bring awareness to suicide and risk factors associated with suicide, September 10 has been observed as World Suicide Prevention Day in partnership with the International Association for Suicide Prevention and the World Health Organization.
Where to get Help
The person’s doctor, acute care team and hospital emergency room can provide a range of options for treating and managing mental health issues.
Please contact 911 or go to the nearest emergency room, if you or your loved ones have suicide thoughts.
Resources:www.psycom.net
