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Suicidal Thoughts
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“I’ve had
feelings of just wanting to disappear. It’s more than depression, like a
complete giving up of life and all of its routine tasks.” |
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Kim
T., University of Wisconsin |
For persons 15 to 24 years old, suicide is
the 3rd leading cause of death, behind unintentional injury and homicide.
More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart
disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung
disease combined. Young women attempt suicide 4 to 8 times more often than
young men, but males are 4 times more likely than females to die from
suicide.
Signs, Symptoms & Causes
A lot of people think about suicide or say
things like, “I wish I was dead,” at times of great stress. For most people,
these thoughts are a way to express anger and other emotions. They may not,
in and of themselves, be a sign of a problem.
Suicidal thoughts could be a signal for
help, though, if they:
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Don’t go away or occur often |
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Are a symptom of a medical illness or
mental health condition, such as depression, bipolar disorder,
schizophrenia, or grief. The loss of a loved one may provoke thoughts of
suicide. |
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Occur in a person who has blood
relatives who attempted suicide or died from suicide |
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Lead to
suicidal gestures, including:
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Repeated statements that indicate
suicidal thoughts, such as, “I’m so depressed that I don’t want to
live anymore.” or “No one will care if I’m gone!” or “How does a
person leave their body to science?” or “Voices are telling me to kill
myself.” |
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Reckless driving or other behavior,
such as standing on the edge of a bridge |
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Self-inflicted injuries, such as
cutting the wrists with a dull instrument or head banging |
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Lead to indications of suicidal intent;
a progression from suicidal thoughts to actual planning for suicide.
Examples are:
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Developing a plan, rehearsing its
steps, and/or planning a time for the event |
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Giving away favorite things or writing
a will |
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Obtaining a weapon or pills that can
be used for suicide |
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Asking for information on assisted
suicide, including looking online for this information |
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(Note: In some
suicides, no warning signs are shown or noticed.)
Treatment
Suicidal threats and attempts are a person’s
way of letting others know that he or she needs help. They should never be
taken lightly or taken only as a “bluff”. Most people who threaten and/or
attempt suicide more than once usually succeed if they are not stopped.
Emergency care and hospitalization are necessary after an attempted suicide.
Persons with suicidal thoughts should seek medical treatment.
Questions to Ask
{Note: In some suicides, no warning signs are shown or
noticed.}
At this time, are any of the following present?
| Suicide attempts |
| Suicidal gestures (e.g., standing on the edge of a bridge, cutting
the wrists with a dull instrument, or driving recklessly on purpose)
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| Plans are being made for suicide (e.g., the person has purchased
or gotten a weapon or pills that could be used for suicide) |
| Repeated thoughts of suicide or death |
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Has the person recently done any of the following?
| Given repeated statements that indicate suicidal thoughts, such as
"I don't want to live anymore," or "The world would be better off
without me." |
| Given away things he or she values most, gotten legal matters in
order, etc. |
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With thoughts of suicide or death, are any of these conditions present?
| Depression or bipolar disorder |
| Schizophrenia |
| Any other mental health or medical condition |
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| Have thoughts of suicide come as a result of using
drugs and/or alcohol or taking, stopping, or changing the dose of a
prescribed medicine? |
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| Does the person thinking about suicide have
signs and symptoms of depression? |
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| Does the person thinking about suicide have other
blood relatives who attempted or died from suicide? |
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Have suicidal thoughts come as a result
of any of the following (or any other) upsets in life?
| A relationship breakup |
| The death of a loved one |
| A rejection or being ridiculed |
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Self-Care/Prevention
If You Are Having
Thoughts of Suicide:
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Let someone know. Talk to a trusted
family member, friend, or teacher. If it is hard for you to talk
directly to someone, write your thoughts down and let someone else read
them. |
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Call your school’s Mental Health
Service, your local Crisis Intervention Center or Suicide Prevention
Hotline. Call directory assistance or the operator if you need help
finding the number. Follow up with a visit to your health care provider
or your school’s Mental Health Service. |
How to Help a
Friend Who May Be Suicidal:
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Take him or her seriously. If your
friend threatens or informs you of suicidal intentions, believe the
threats. |
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Listen. Allow your friend to express his
or her feelings. |
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Keep the person talking. Ask questions
to keep a discussion going including, “Are you thinking about hurting or
killing yourself?” |
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Express your care and concern. Tell your
friend how much he or she means to you and how important it is to you
that he or she stays alive. |
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Take action if you suspect the person is
seriously considering suicide. Get help, but do not leave him or her
alone until you do get help. |
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Urge the person to make the call for
help. If he or she is already under the care of a mental health
provider, have the person contact that provider first. If not, other
places to contact are Suicide Prevention and Crisis Intervention
Hotlines, your school’s Mental Health Service, Student Health Service
and hospital emergency departments. |
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Make the call yourself if the person
cannot or will not. |
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Watch and protect him or her. Remove all
sharp objects, pills, guns, and bullets, etc. |
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Express interest and give support. Most
suicidal persons feel isolated from other people. |
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Don’t judge. The person needs you to
listen, not to preach moral values. |
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While getting help, do not
leave a person who threatens suicide alone. |
 For Information, Contact:
Your school’s Student Counseling or
Mental Health Service, or Student Health Service
Your local Suicide Prevention Hotline or
Crisis Intervention Center
American Foundation for Suicide
Prevention
888.333.AFSP (2377) (This is not a crisis hotline.)
www.afsp.org
Metanoia Communications
www.metanoia.org/suicide
Suicide Hotlines.com
800.SUICIDE (784.2433)
www.suicidehotlines.com
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