Suicide is among the leading causes of death in the United States. One reason it’s so prevalent is because there’s no single reason people decide to take their own lives. Experts say that there’s no one real answer. It’s typically a number of situations or occasions.
Some of the primary causes are:
- Severe depression or other mental illness
- Chronic or traumatic stress, such as an adverse childhood event (ACE), domestic abuse, or being a combat veteran
- Substance abuse, which exacerbates impulsivity
- Family history of suicide
- Feeling of loss or fear of loss, such as not doing well in school, being a victim of bullying, financial issues, relationships ending
- Chronic pain or illness—either wanting to end that pain or feeling like a burden to others
Watch for the Signs
The warning signs of potential suicide aren’t always apparent. However, there are specific signals to watch for—in three main categories: talk, behavior, and mood.
1) Talk. If your friend or someone you know is talking about killing themselves, that seems obvious. But many people have anxiety when those topics come up. We have to take those topics seriously. We need to take action and help that person get help.
People will often talk about feeling hopeless like there’s no chance of things getting better in their life. Or, that there’s no reason to live, they feel like a burden, or they feel trapped.
2) Behavior. Examples might be an increase in using alcohol or other drugs, withdrawing from activities they used to be interested in, refusing invitations out, changes in sleep patterns (either sleeping a lot or not sleeping much at all), more aggressive behavior, or relinquishing items they deem valuable.
It’s typically a hindsight sort of situation, but they start giving away some of their most prized possessions, the things they value the most they want to give to you as a friend or as a family member. We need to take notice of that before it is too late.
3) Mood. We all feel sad at different times throughout life and in different situations. But, when sadness lasts for a prolonged period of time, that’s much more serious than feeling “blue.” Take notice if there is any period longer than two weeks for adults and a week for adolescents, with consistent low mood, increased anxiety, loss of interests, and irritability.
Mood is something that gets a bit tricky. For people you know better than others, whether they’re a friend or a family member or coworker, and it seems like they’ve been really down in the dumps and really depressed. Then, all of a sudden, with a snap of a finger, everything is great. Everything is better. That’s where we have to pay even more attention because oftentimes, when someone has made the decision to kill themselves, there’s a sense of relief.
Available Resources
A number of resources are available for anyone who is contemplating suicide—or those who recognize the warning signs in another. Even just reaching out and being courageous enough to broach the topic can make a significant difference.
Sometimes, we overcomplicate things. You don’t have to have a degree in social work or psychology to be able to help someone who is experiencing these feelings. One of the main protective factors against suicide is a feeling of connectedness. You don’t have to worry about having the ‘right’ words. Just reach out, express care and concern, and have that open and honest conversation.
That said, if someone is in immediate peril, professional help is critical. Reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 800-273-8255. They are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in two languages, English and Spanish.
A Courageous Act Can Prevent a Crisis
No matter a person’s age—whether a preteen (or younger), middle-aged, or elderly—suicide is preventable. But, it often takes a loved one, or even a secondary observer, to step in.
It takes a lot of courage, but making that phone call can really make all the difference. If you are a family member, a caregiver, or a loved one of someone who is experiencing depression or suicidal thoughts, you are not alone. There is help. You don’t have to have it all figured out in a moment. And each of us can prevent a crisis and prevent things from escalating to feelings of suicide. Just be aware and be there.
Medically reviewed by Jennifer Redding, LCSW-C.
