The World Health Organization finds that 703,000 people die each year from suicide. Suicide affects everyone. The majority of us have either known or loved someone who died by suicide or who is currently dealing with the loss of a friend or family member. While suicide is caused by a multitude of factors, suicide is preventable. Reducing risk factors and increasing resilience-promoting elements aids in the efforts of suicide prevention. The majority of people considering suicide indicate their intentions with warning signs or signals. Noticing and addressing these warning sides can save lives.

Talking about killing or hurting oneself, writing or talking a lot about death, looking for items like weapons or drugs that could be used in a suicide attempt, and previous suicide attempts are all major warning signals for suicide. According to studies, hopelessness is another powerful predictor of suicide. Individuals who are hopeless may describe their emotions as “unbearable” and claim they have nothingto look forward to. Others may focus on getting their affairs in order, say goodbye as if they will not be seen again, or display a sudden sense of calm after being extremely depressed. Knowing how to react when you see these warning signals is the best defense against suicide.

It can be quite difficult for anyone to talk to a friend or family member about their suicidal thoughts and feelings. However, the simplest approach to find out if someone is suicidal is to ask them. A person cannot become suicidal by demonstrating your concern for them. Giving someone who may be considering suicide the chance to communicate their thoughts, emotions, and feelings may help them feel less alone and provide relief from negative emotions that have been bottled up. You can help prevent suicide if you think a friend or family member is considering suicide by discussing it with them and helping them find other options that are comfortable for them.

For more information on warning signs and ways to start conversations about suicide click here.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, July 25). About suicide prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/about/index.html#cdc_health_safety_special_topic_spotlight-spotlight

Suicide prevention. HelpGuide.org. (2024, February 5). https://www.helpguide.org/articles/suicide-prevention/suicide-prevention.htm

World Health Organization. (2023, August 28). Suicide. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/suicide