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.
“There’s no one real answer. It’s typically a number of situations or occasions,” states Jennifer Redding, Executive Director of Behavioral Health at University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health.
Redding lists the primary causes as:
- 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, Redding notes specific signals to watch for—describing them 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 I think a lot of us 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,” warns Redding.
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.” Redding cautions against any period longer than two weeks for adults and a week for adolescents, with consistent low mood, increased anxiety, loss of interests, and irritability.
“Something that gets a bit tricky, and this is for folks who you know better than others, whether they’re a friend or a family member or coworker, but it seems like they’ve been really down in the dumps. They’ve really been depressed. Then, all of a sudden, 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, I think we overcomplicate things. You don’t have to have a degree in social work or psychology to be able to help someone that is experiencing these feelings. One of the main protective factors against suicide is a feeling of connectedness,” shares Redding. “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. In Hartford County, individuals can call 1-800-NEXT-STEP to reach licensed counselors 24/7. The Klein Family Hartford Crisis Center is open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
“Literally no appointment is needed. You walk in and you’re going to get in front of a licensed counselor who can help you navigate what’s going on and get you linked with resources right away,” adds Redding.
If you are not in Harford County, help is still available. 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 age, or elderly—suicide is preventable. But, it often takes a loved one, or even a secondary observer, to step in.
“I know 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. We have help,” assures Redding. “These folks in our lives don’t have to have it all figured out in a moment. We can prevent a crisis, prevent things escalating to feelings of suicide. We’re here. There are people here to help.”
Listen to a Podcast
Listen to an in-depth conversation on this topic with Jennifer Redding, Executive Director of Behavioral Health at University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health, below or visit umms.org/podcast.
