Suicide Prevention

I know this won't take the place of an actual seminar or workshop on suicide prevention, but I think it's good information for people to have anyway.

http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depression-recognizing-signs-of-suicide

Are there risk factors for suicide?

Risk factors for thoughts of suicide can vary with age, gender, and ethnic group. And risk factors often occur in combinations.

Over 90% of people who die by suicide have clinical depression or another diagnosable mental disorder. Many times, people who die by suicide have a substance abuse problem. Often they have that problem in combination with other mental disorders.

Adverse or traumatic life events in combination with other risk factors, such as clinical depression, may lead to suicide. But suicide and suicidal behavior are never normal responses to stress.

Other risk factors for suicide include:

• One or more prior suicide attempts
• Family history of mental disorder or substance abuse
• Family history of suicide
• Family violence
• Physical or sexual abuse
• Keeping firearms in the home
• Incarceration
• Exposure to the suicidal behavior of others

Are there warning signs of suicide?

Warning signs that someone may be thinking about or planning to commit suicide include:

• Always talking or thinking about death
• Clinical depression -- deep sadness, loss of interest, trouble sleeping and eating -- that gets worse
• Having a "death wish," tempting fate by taking risks that could lead to death such as driving fast or running red lights
• Losing interest in things one used to care about
• Making comments about being hopeless, helpless, or worthless
• Putting affairs in order, tying up loose ends, changing a will
• Saying things like "it would be better if I wasn't here" or "I want out"
• Sudden, unexpected switch from being very sad to being very calm or appearing to be happy
• Talking about suicide or killing one's self
• Visiting or calling people to say goodbye

Be especially concerned if a person is exhibiting any of these warning signs and has attempted suicide in the past. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, between 20% and 50% of people who commit suicide have had a previous attempt.

What should I do if someone has signs of suicide and clinical depression?

First, if someone you know appears to be depressed and is contemplating suicide, take that person seriously. Listen to what he or she is saying. Take the initiative to ask that person what he or she is planning. But don't attempt to argue him or her out of committing suicide. Rather, let the person know that you care and understand and are listening. Avoid statements like: "You have so much to live for."

If someone you know appears to be depressed and talks about suicide, makes a suicidal gesture, or attempts suicide, take it as a serious emergency. Listen to the person, but don't try to argue with him or her. Seek immediate help from a health care professional.

Depressed people are often suicidal. It is a key symptom of the disease. Some studies show that the neurotransmitter serotonin plays a central role in the neurobiology of suicide. Researchers have found lower levels of serotonin in the brainstem and cerebrospinal fluid of suicidal individuals.

In addition, suicidal behavior sometimes runs in families. Remember, any talk of suicide is always an emergency. Have the person talk with a health care professional immediately.

Where can I seek help for suicide and depression?

Encourage the person to seek the help of a mental health professional. Because the person probably doesn't think it's possible to be helped, you'll probably have to be persistent and go with that person.

If your loved one appears to be in imminent danger of committing suicide, do not leave him or her alone. Remove any weapons or drugs he or she could use. Accompany him or her to the nearest emergency room.

During treatment, be supportive. Help the person remember to take antidepressant medications and to continue any other therapy that's been prescribed.

http://www.save.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewPage&page_ID=705E1907-C4DD-5D32-2C7087CE5924CCA4

If You See the Warning Signs of Suicide...

Begin a dialogue by asking questions. Suicidal thoughts are common with depressive illnesses and your willingness to talk about it in a non-judgmental, non-confrontational way can be the help a person needs to seeking professional help. Questions okay to ask:

• "Do you ever feel so badly that you think about suicide?"
• "Do you have a plan to commit suicide or take your life?"
• "Have you thought about when you would do it (today, tomorrow, next week)?"
• "Have you thought about what method you would use?"

Asking these questions will help you to determine if your friend or family members is in immediate danger, and get help if needed. A suicidal person should see a doctor or mental health professional immediately. Calling 911 or going to a hospital emergency room are also good options to prevent a tragic suicide attempt or death. Calling the National Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK is also a resource for you or the person you care about for help. Remember, always take thoughts of or plans for suicide seriously.

Never keep a plan for suicide a secret. Don’t worry about risking a friendship if you truly feel a life is in danger. You have bigger things to worry about-someone’s life might be in danger! It is better to lose a relationship from violating a confidence than it is to go to a funeral. And most of the time they will come back and thank you for saving their life.

Don't try to minimize problems or shame a person into changing their mind. Your opinion of a person's situation is irrelevant. Trying to convince a person suffering with a mental illness that it's not that bad, or that they have everything to live for may only increase their feelings of guilt and hopelessness. Reassure them that help is available, that depression is treatable, and that suicidal feelings are temporary. Life can get better!

If you feel the person isn't in immediate danger, acknowledge the pain as legitimate and offer to work together to get help. Make sure you follow through. This is one instance where you must be tenacious in your follow-up. Help find a doctor or a mental health professional, participate in making the first phone call, or go along to the first appointment. If you're in a position to help, don't assume that your persistence is unwanted or intrusive. Risking your feelings to help save a life is a risk worth taking.

C.

This would make a good sticky, IMO.

This is awesome. A close friend of mine committed suicide at the age of 29, and I really wish I had this type of information beforehand   Looking back, the signs were definitely there. 

Thanks for posting this, I think this subject has affected many of us on here :[

Very good post.

Im giving you bonus points.

Quoting Beth [Tegan's Mommy]:“ Thanks for posting this, I think this subject has affected many of us on here :[”

Agreed.
A good friend of my committed suicide 3 months ago. None of us saw it coming, but in hindsight we most certainly should have.

Quoting Orions Mommy:“ Agreed. A good friend of my committed suicide 3 months ago. None of us saw it coming, but in hindsight we most certainly should have.”

I'm so sorry. My friend committed suicide a little over two years ago, it still hurts just as much as it did then.

Sadly, not a lot of people are aware that there are even warning signs. I wasn't until I was given a brief seminar on suicide prevention a couple years back as part of a course I was taking... and I've been suicidal in the past.

C.

Thanks for posting this, my husband has been suicidal in the past. Sometimes I still worry about him.

Thanks for posting this!

Quoting God:“ Sadly, not a lot of people are aware that there are even warning signs. I wasn't until I was given a ... [snip!] ... seminar on suicide prevention a couple years back as part of a course I was taking... and I've been suicidal in the past. C.”

I just get really frustrated when people just write them off as "selfish". It's so much more complicated than that. A fantastic book I read after my friend died was called "Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide" It really helped me get a better grasp on what actually happened. 

Thanks for posting!
I lost a cousin and a friend to suicide!

Quoting Rubygirl214:“ I just get really frustrated when people just write them off as "selfish". It's so much more complicated ... [snip!] ... died was called "Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide" It really helped me get a better grasp on what actually happened.”

I agree.

But I think that also might be part of the grieving process, for them.

C.

Quoting God:“ I agree. But I think that also might be part of the grieving process, for them. C.”

I'm just talking about some of the other threads where someone has lost someone to suicide, and random people just say "well, that was really selfish". My friend David was bipolar, and told me 2 weeks before he died that he stopped taking his lithium. I wish I knew back then how dangerous that was to do it cold turkey. His reasoning was that he was an actor, and the lithium made him unable to function in his job. He said that it made him unable to draw on his emotions. 

I just miss him SO much, still, and it's been 9 years now. It just shattered me when that happened. 

I've tried to take my life many times, but I was lucky to have family/friends who have intervened.