Understanding Suicide & Warning Signs
Are you thinking about suicide? Asking directly if someone is having thoughts of suicide can help provide hope, change the course of a life and prevent indescribable pain. It's a myth that asking this question will somehow plant a seed in someone's mind. People may already have had the thought, yet research tells us that asking the question often provides relief by giving the person an open door to respond honestly.1
Asking the Question Access Toolkits Preventing Suicide Home Safety Tips
Avera encourages the public to speak up and get help if they see the signs that someone might attempt suicide. Warning signs for suicide include but aren’t limited to:
- Expressions of hopelessness or feeling trapped
- Comments about feeling empty or having no reason to live
- Increase in drug and alcohol use
- Loss of interest in things they used to enjoy
- Going through a current crisis or significant life change, such as legal issues or financial problems
More Warning Signs
Obsessions with Dying
- Thinking, talking or writing about dying from suicide
- Developing a plan about how they might attempt suicide
- Believing that death is the only solution to their problems
Negative Emotions
- Displaying depression, fatigue, anxiety, irritation, aggression or anger
- Holding onto feelings of humiliation, shame or hopelessness
- Saying they want to die, feel trapped, have no reason to live or are a burden to others
Pulling Away
- Withdrawing from relationships with family and friends
- Losing interest in things they usually enjoy
Poor Health Habits
- Using more alcohol or drugs
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Eating more or less than usual
Unusual Behaviors
- Displaying new behaviors, typically negative, especially when related to a major life event
- Taking part in risky behaviors, such as having sex with someone they don’t know, or drinking and driving
Poor Performance
- Missing work, deadlines or assignments when they normally wouldn’t
- Children, teens or students might have declining grades or failing tests
Actions of Finality
- Feeling the pressing need to make out their will or arrange their funeral
- Giving away things they own
Did you know?
Suicide can happen suddenly. Within 2 hours of deciding to take their life, the person could follow through on the act.
