Suicide Prevention
Suicide prevention requires a Community Response.
Signs and Symptoms
Here are some common behaviors of depressed and/or suicidal people. If you or someone you love is experiencing any of these, please take action right away to create safety.
Thoughts of Suicide
The individual may or may not share their means and/or intent, and may become fixated on the thought of escaping reality.
Prior Attempts
Past behavior is a strong indicator. The individual might be experimenting or practicing certain behaviors that can be seen as a cry for help or a way to overcome barriers to the act.
Sleep Changes
Too much, or too little? Does the energy level match the level of sleep? Chemical imbalances, racing thoughts, and depression contribute to changes in sleep patterns, and the lack of rest can also wear down a person’s emotional strength and resilience.
Withdrawn
Isolation and social avoidance is a sign of mental anguish. This person feels overwhelmed and the mind naturally tries to protect itself by demanding isolation.
Loss of Interest
An individual may lose their desire in things once enjoyed, which shows a high level of depression and/or feelings of worthlessness.
Decrease in Performance
An individual’s performance at home, work or school may suffer when they are struggling emotionally. These are also risk factors that contribute to the loss of a job or stable relationships, which in turn compounds the risk.
Risk Taking
The individual may begin or elevate behaviors that are uncharacteristic including substance abuse, violent outbursts, gambling, overspending, criminal behavior, or risky sexual behavior.
Disconnection
A person suffering from depression might experience paranoia, delusions, or hallucinations, possibly as a result of the mind’s struggles with the real world. In an attempt to escape the difficulties of reality, the mind may create a new reality.
Difficulty Managing Emotions
When emotional “flooding” occurs in the depressed person, they may find that tempering their emotions is impossible, and the people around them might also find it difficult to deal with their emotions. In this scenario the depressed person has likely run out of energy to control their emotions, so the emotions control them instead.
Self-Harm
The act of self harm is not always directly connected with suicidal thoughts, but instead a misguided attempt to gain control over a seemingly uncontrollable reality. This action could also be seen as “practicing” so that the depressed person can become more comfortable with the idea of suicide.
Eating Changes
Weight loss or gain, sneaky behaviors, lying about food or drink choices, and hiding consumption can be seen as a red flag as well. The depressed person is trying to gain control or fill a void in an unhealthy way, by eating too much or too little.
“
We are all that girl on the bathroom floor. Rock bottom just means crisis. It is not the end. Life does not evict us from anything unless it’s inviting us to something better.”
- Glennon Doyle Melton (via Tiffany Anderson)
Risk Factors
Individual Factors
Hopelessness
Impulsivity
Unstable Family Dynamic
Low Self-Worth
Poor Problem Solving Skills
Difficulty Managing Emotions
Negative Self-Talk
Lack of Support
Family History
Mental and Physical Health Factors
Substance Abuse Disorder
Alcohol and drugs alter the mental state and change the chemical balance of the individual. The desire to escape through substances creates a vicious cycle in some individuals, and represents a significant suicide risk.
Mental Disorders
Mood disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety, and certain personality disorders all contribute to a higher risk of suicide.
Major Physical Illness
When facing a major illness, the individual may experience a compounded affect of reduced exercise, side-effects from medications, isolation from loved ones, reduced self-worth, or a number of other factors which contribute to the individual’s hopelessness.
Environmental Factors
Exposure
A person may be at a higher risk if he or she has witnessed or been exposed to suicide by someone close to them or by viewing media depictions of suicide.
Cultural & Religious
Through cultural, family, or religious teachings and customs, the individual may develop beliefs that suicide is a noble act.
Access to Lethal Means
If the depressed person has access to firearms, specific medications, or other means of suicide, they are at a much higher risk of suicide.
Stigma
Unfortunately, cultural paradigms and personal assumptions can sometimes prevent a depressed person from seeking help for his problems because they are afraid of judgement or damage to their reputation, or that of their family.
Wellness Tips
Resources
“
The main message is that you are not the only one going through these problems or ideas... you can verbalize them and you can cope with them in a healthy way to get you through that."
- Jordan Burnham bounced back after surviving a suicide attempt in his teens.