Signs of Suicidal Thoughts

Suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death in the United States, with about 33,000 deaths from suicide each year. Among teens and adolescents, it is the third leading cause of death. If someone you know has mentioned suicidal thoughts or is exhibiting suicidal tendencies, it is important to always take it seriously and take action.

Factors that Contribute to Thoughts of Suicide

• There are many things that can bring a person to the brink of suicide. Some of these include medication withdrawal, side effects from prescription drugs, a personality or mental disorder (such as bipolar disorder, depression, or an eating disorder), a recent traumatic event or loss, drug abuse, feelings of isolation, stressful events (such as divorce, a failed exam, or termination at a workplace), and changes in body chemistry.

General Warning Signs of Suicidal Thoughts

• Among any population, the following are warning signs for suicidal tendencies, and should be watched, especially is the person seems to suffer from any grade of depression.
  Talking about one's own demise, as in "I wish I were dead," or talking about killing oneself.
  Expressing desire for it to "all be over"
  Expressing a feeling of hopelessness
  Parasuicidal behavior, such as causing non-fatal injury to oneself
  Giving away possesions
  Taking unnecessary risks
  Loss of interest in activities
  Eating and sleeping disturbances

Signs of Imminent Danger of Suicide

• The following are signs that a person is in immediate danger of suicide. Immediate action should be taken if a person exhibits these signs. Remember, it is better to have been mistaken about someone's intentions, than to let them go through with a suicide attempt.
  A sudden levity after a long period of sadness. This could indicate that the person is now no longer conflicted or actively unhappy because he has made the decision to commit suicide.
  Giving away cherished possesions.
  Say goodbyes to people as if they will never see them again.
  The possession of a detailed suicide plan
  The procurement of items that can lead to death: prescription or illegal drugs, guns, rope, etc.

Misconceptions about Suicidal Behavior

• Many people think that if a person mentions the idea of suicide, that they are not really planning on following through or are just trying to "get attention." This is false. Take what a person is saying at face value. Oftentimes, people who have never been suicidal believe that if a person has tried to commit suicide once and fails, then the person is not serious about committing suicide. This is also false. Some people simply fail to execute their plan properly or are interrupted. Others are building up the nerve to really do it. The next time, it could be fatal. Another misconception is that people who commit suicide do it out of spite. The truth is that many people who commit suicide think that their loved ones will really be better off without them around. This is why it is so important to take action.

What to do if you suspect someone is having suicidal thoughts

• If you suspect that someone is having suicidal thoughts, do not ignore it or hope that those thoughts will go away. Instead, take the following steps, and have these attitudes when facing the person.
  Be honest about how you feel, and ask the person if something has been bothering them.
  Be direct, and ask if the person has considered injuring herself. Do not be afraid that you'll "give her ideas." She's heard of suicide before. Your mentioning it will not be something new.
  Make yourself available to talk at any time.
  Be attentive to what the person says, and listen to what he is saying fully. Let the person say whatever he needs to say.
  Do not alienate the person further by becoming aggressive in any way. Do not get angry, and do not dare her to do it.
  Be understanding and non-judgmental about the person's feelings, but do not enter into the person's despair with him.
  Emphasize that what she is feeling is treatable and temporary in the long term.
  Make sure to tell the person how much you will miss him and how much he will be missed by others.
  Offer to go in with the person to see a counselor.
  Don't allow yourself to be sworn into secrecy. This will only make matters worse.
  Remove easy methods or suicide from her environment, such as guns and pills.