September: Suicide Prevention Month
According to the CDC, suicide is “the third leading cause of death among 15-24 year olds and the second leading cause of death among 25-34 year olds.” These staggering statistics are why suicide is currently considered a public health crisis in the United States.
Suicide can be an intimidating or scary topic for most people, and as humans we tend to avoid things that intimidate and/or scare us. But suicide needs to talked about in order to prevent it. There is a pervasive myth surrounding the topic of suicide: “If I bring up suicide it will put the idea in someone’s head.” However, this line of thought has been proven to be false. Talking about suicide DOES NOT put the idea in someone’s head, and it DOES NOT increase someone’s chances of attempting suicide. In fact, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, talking about suicide increases the likelihood that someone will seek out help. Hopefully by the end of this post you will feel equipped to support someone who discloses that they are feeling suicidal or is showing warning signs of suicide.
Let’s first talk about the language surrounding suicide. The National Institute of Mental Health explains that phrases like “completed suicide”, “committed suicide”, “successful suicide” and “unsuccessful/failed suicide” should be avoided since they convey negative connotations. It’s best to utilize neutral language such as “died by suicide” or “attempted suicide”. If you suspect someone may be suicidal, it’s important to be direct. Instead of asking “ are you okay?” “are you thinking about hurting yourself?” the best question to ask if you are noticing suicide warning signs is “are you thinking about suicide?” or “are you thinking about killing yourself?”
Some warning signs to look out for:
Withdrawing and isolating from friends and family
Talking about feeling hopeless, empty or extremely sad
Talking about not seeing the purpose of life anymore, expressing that there is not point to living
Increased risk taking behaviors (reckless sex, drug use, reckless driving, etc.)
Feeling like a burden to others
Feeling trapped or that there is no way out of the current situation
Talking about wanting to die
Giving away possessions
Extreme mood swings
Change in sleeping, eating and/or hygiene habits
Making a plan for suicide (stocking up on pills, buying a gun, etc.)
If you notice that someone is displaying these warning signs, do not downplay or ignore them! Ask the person directly: “are you thinking about killing yourself?” Being direct is crucial. If someone responds “yes” to this question, it’s important to not panic and remain calm. Know you don’t have to be a mental health professional to support someone experiencing suicidal thoughts- if someone is expressing that they are suicidal to you, it means that they feel safe with you already. The best thing you can do for that person is to be calm and be there for them. Simply listen to what they are saying with non-judgement and without minimizing their feelings.
Connecting them to help will be your next important step. There are numerous agencies, crisis lines and phone numbers available with trained staff who handle these kinds of calls every day. You can also help by connecting a suicidal person to an individual they trust such as a pastor, counselor, mentor, family member, etc. Get help for them as soon as possible and continue to be a support for them following a suicide intervention.
You can take part in preventing suicide by knowing the warning signs, asking the direct questions, offering support and connecting someone to help. These steps could save someone’s life.
IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS EXPERIENCING THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE:
You can call 911 or check into any emergency room
Call or text 988 (24/7 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline)
Text HELLO to 741741 (24/7 crisis support)
Sources for this post:
https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/asap_suicide_issue2-a.pdf
https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/September-2020/5-Common-Myths-About-Suicide-Debunked
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention
