Suicide Prevention

Where to Turn If You’re at Risk for Suicide and How to Prevent Future Suicidal Thoughts

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Written by: Jennifer Scott, SpiritFinder
Note: Ms. Scott offers a forum where those living with anxiety and depression can discuss their experiences.

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Photo Credit: BrookLorin, Pixabay

When you’re suffering from suicidal thoughts, you don’t need to keep them to yourself. Help is available through emergency resources, which can provide immediate help. You can also turn to friends, parents, coaches, teachers, and counselors. Working on long-term prevention strategies can help lessen or eliminate future suicidal thoughts.

Emergency Resources

If you’re in immediate danger, dial 911 or visit your local emergency room. You can also visit a local Safe Place® site, use TXT 4 HELP by texting “Safe” to 69866, or contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). They’re available 24 hours a day, every day of the week. The call is free and confidential, and the staff consists of specially trained counselors who “listen to you, understand how your problem is affecting you, provide support, and share any resources that may be helpful.” They also have a chat option.

​Call your mental health professional if you’re having suicidal thoughts. A therapist or counselor is specially trained to handle these situations, and he or she is likely to have a strong relationship with you. The therapist will assess your present state of mind. If you’re not in immediate danger, you may be asked to come in for an emergency appointment, or the therapist may spend some time speaking with you over the phone. If it’s determined that you’re in immediate danger, you’ll be asked to go to the closest emergency room, where he or she will likely meet you.

Fact and Statistics

Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States with more than 44,000 people dying by suicide each year. This equates to about 121 deaths by suicide every day. For each death by suicide, there are 25 suicide attempts as well. Men die by suicide 3.5 times more often than women. Research has found that 90 percent of individuals who die by suicide suffered from a mental health issue such as depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia.

Although teens and young adults are typically associated with being at high risk for suicide, they actually represent the group with the lowest suicide rate. The highest suicide rate is among adults between 45 and 64 years of age, and the second highest occurs in people age 85 or older.

The races/ethnicities with the highest suicide rates are American Indians and Alaska Natives with 20 percent of all suicides. Whites have the second highest rate at 17 percent. From there the percentages are around six percent for Asians and Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, and blacks.

 Long-Term Prevention Strategies

Immediate assistance is important, but you should also work on long-term prevention strategies to avoid future suicidal situations. Get support from a mental health professional if you don’t already have one. Ask your family physician for a referral or search online for well-reviewed professionals near you. You should also have a support group of family of friends who you can reach out to when you’re feeling down or just need someone to talk to.

Work on identifying high-risk triggers or situations. Are there situations, people, or factors that increase your negative feelings? If so, avoid those circumstances. If you take prescription medications for mental health issues, take them as prescribed. Report side effects to your doctor if they’re interrupting your daily life, especially if you’re feeling worse. Some side effects are expected in the beginning, such as lower energy, but tend to taper off. An improvement in mood isn’t felt immediately on medications.

Having a routine provides structure and can help you feel more in control of your feelings and life. Try waking up and going to bed at the same time every day, even on weekends. Plan activities for the day, such as going to the gym or watching a movie. Avoid missing school or work. Make time for things you enjoy, especially when you’re feeling low. Set goals, even if they’re small. For example, you can read a book, learn a new hobby, volunteer, or travel.

Even if your situation feels hopeless, there are ways to sort through your feelings and issues to get to a point where you feel better. In the worst times, know that you can reach out to emergency resources, and each day, you can utilize long-term prevention strategies to work toward feeling happier and healthier.

 

National Suicide Prevention Awareness Week

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Written by: Elizabeth Smith Miller, Communications Coordinator, National Safe Place Network

Did you know that millions of Americans are directly affected by more than 37,000 suicides each year?   September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month with this week being National Suicide Prevention Awareness Week.  World Suicide Prevention Day is Saturday, September 10th.  Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people and your prevention efforts are critical.

Risk Factors

  • Family history of suicide
  • Substance abuse / intoxication
  • Access to lethal means
  • Serious or chronic medical illness
  • Mental disorders – i.e. mood disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety, and certain personality disorders
  • Hopelessness
  • History of trauma or abuse
  • Prolonged stress
  • Lack of support and sense of isolation
  • Lack of health care – i.e. mental health and substance abuse treatment
  • Recent tragedy or loss
  • Agitation and sleep deprivation
  • Impulsive and/or aggressive tendencies
  • Previous suicide attempt
  • Gender (more women attempt suicide; however, men are four times more likely to die by suicide)
  • Age (people under the age of 24 and over 65 are at an increased risk for suicide)

Warning Signs

  • Suicidal ideation – Threats or comments about killing themselves
  • Talking, writing, or thinking about death
  • Increased substance use (drugs/alcohol)
  • Aggressive behavior
  • Social withdrawal
  • Dramatic mood swings
  • Impulsive or reckless behavior

List of risk factors and warning signs obtained from:  http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/learn/riskfactors.aspx
http://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions/Related-Conditions/Risk-of-Suicide

What can you do?
Learn about suicide.  Visit http://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions/Related-Conditions/Suicide and http://www.sprc.org to learn more about suicide.

Educate others.  Take a look at this great Suicide Prevention Month Ideas for Action Resource Guide by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center.  http://www.sprc.org/sites/default/files/resource-program/Suicide%20Prevention%20Month%20Ideas%20for%20Action%20September%202016.pdf
suicide-ideas-for-action

Be prepared for a crisis.
http://www.nami.org/Find-Support/Family-Members-and-Caregivers/Being-Prepared-for-a-Crisis

Take action.
If you think your friend or family member will hurt themselves or someone else, call 911.  Here are some additional steps you can take to reduce risk:

  • Remove lethal means (i.e. guns, knives, pills)
  • Calmly ask simple and direct questions. (i.e. What can I do to help? Can I help call your counselor or psychiatrist?)
  • Talk openly and honestly about suicide. (i.e. Are you having thoughts of suicide? Do you have a plan to hurt yourself?) – Make sure only one person is speaking at a time if multiple people are present.
  • Don’t debate if suicide is right or wrong.
  • Don’t argue, threaten, or raise your voice.
  • Assist with calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1.800.273.TALK (8255)
  • View a complete list of these tips here: http://www.nami.org/Find-Support/Family-Members-and-Caregivers/Preventing-Suicide

Resources

Loved one:  http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content//SMA08-4357/SMA08-4357.pdf
Yourself:  http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/SMA08-4355/SMA08-4355.pdf

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September is National Suicide Prevention Month

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Written by: Tammy Hopper, Chief Strategic Initiatives Officer, National Safe Place Network & RHYTTAC

Although I had learned about suicide and had even been a peer educator in high school, I had not personally been impacted by a completed act until my freshman year in college. I was serving as a resident advisor and was called into the head resident counselor’s office to hear the news. The boyfriend of a friend of mine had shot himself in the woods on campus. I was sad for my friend, angry at the young man and confused about what had happened. I had been trained to look for signs. Everyone had seen this young man many times and although we knew he had a temper, it always seemed to be directed at others. Like the other individuals involved, we waded through the rivers of grief and found that the depth of the waters differed from person to person. Feelings of guilt, anxiety, depression and anger were common and yet, like most moving waters – the rivers flowed and we found renewed energy to continue our life journeys – even though his was complete.

In later years I was impacted by the suicide of a young transitional living program participant. As a supervisor, I would sometimes be called into action when a staff person was sick. One Sunday I was covering the program and this young man indicated he was hungry. He was the only one in the building so I decided to make pancakes. I can still see his face and remember how moved I was when he gave me a hug and expressed sincere gratitude that I had made this small gesture for no other reason than to be kind to him. He talked about his life and how he always felt like a burden to others and how he wanted things to be different. He was able to verbalize his desire for close relationships while confirming his doubt that these same relationships could last. Six months later, he completed suicide on a different Sunday morning. He asked that there be no service as no one would mourn him “for real.” He was wrong – I cried. The staff cried. Volunteers cried.  Like the other individuals involved, our tears joined in the rivers of grief and we found that the depth of the waters differed from person to person. Feelings of guilt, anxiety, depression and anger were common and yet, like most moving waters – the rivers flowed and we found renewed energy to continue our life journeys – even though his was complete.

Most recently, my nephew called to say that my sister attempted to take her own life. She was in the hospital and although she indicated that her overdose on pain medication was an accident – no one in the family overlooked the obvious. She was still with us and we could share our love, appreciation and support. Relief was one side of our family coin and sadness the other. My sister has been surviving with multiple sclerosis for more than 25 years. She is in constant and considerable pain. She cannot breathe and it is difficult and close to impossible for her to move. She says she is tired. She says she is done. She says her faith tells her that there is something next. Regardless of whether she intended to complete suicide or not, the result of the potential loss is frightening. We all responded with concern, sought reassurances and then continued in our individual boats down the rivers of grief and found that the depth of the waters differed from person to person. Feelings of guilt, anxiety, depression and anger were common and yet, like most moving waters – the rivers flowed and we found renewed energy to continue our life journeys – even though we do not know when hers will be complete.

I know very few people who have not been impacted by suicide. Internal fleeting thoughts;  personal attempts; friend or family losses; media exposure – all demonstrate to us that to think about this life fully will also involve recognizing the inevitable nature of death. In trainings and consultations we discuss how suicide is different from any other form of loss. The intentionality of the act and the self-directed nature of the decision make it very difficult to understand, talk about or find ways to respond to in healthy ways.

However, the conversations about suicide should be happening at many levels – familial, organizational, community – and these conversations should be happening often. Knowing the warning signs and seeking help for the individuals is critical. It is better to breach a sensitive subject and have the person be alive even if they are angry.

People who complete suicide may exhibit one or more warning signs. The more warning signs, the greater the risk. Example warning signs include:

  • Feeling trapped
  • Talk about killing themselves
  • Stating of implying that he or she has no reason to live
  • Feeling like a burden to others
  • Referencing unbearable pain
  • Feeling as if there are no answers or no way out of situations
  • Increased substance abuse
  • Acting recklessly
  • Withdrawing from activities or friends
  • Sleeping too much or too little
  • Giving away prized possessions
  • Aggression or violence
  • Saying goodbye
  • Depression
  • Loss of interests in hobbies or other activities
  • Irritability
  • Anxiety
  • Unexpected euphoria or happiness

As we examine this topic during National Suicide Prevention Month, we at National Safe Place Network encourage you to get involved at whatever level makes sense for you.

Consider:

The loss of life is a loss of potential. Possibility evaporates and is replaced with thoughts of what could have been. If you or someone your know is thinking about suicide, please seek help. National Safe Place Network envisions a world in which all youth are safe. Thank you for your efforts to make this vision a reality.