Suicide
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Helping someone who is suicidal can be scary and shocking all at once. If you are able to, arm yourself with the knowledge you need about suicide and what to do this way you are not going into a situation blindly or with the wrong mindset. If you think someone you know is suicidal, but don’t know how to help, here are some tips to guide you:
* Talk ~ Make yourself available to the person. Ask them if they are in fact considering suicide. Be open and honest with them, but be willing to listen to what they have to say without being judgmental. They need to feel safe and empowered to express themselves freely. This helps you as well because they will give you the information you need to assess what is going on with them.
* Believe them ~ If they confirm they are in fact suicidal, believe them. Don’t treat it as a ploy to be manipulative or dramatic. Take it very seriously. Reiterate how much you care for them, but don not patronize them and try to make them feel their decision is wrong. This isn’t the proper time to debate it.
* Be Sincere ~ Show them true empathy and genuine sincerity while talking with them. Listen and listen some more if they need you to. Ask them to help you understand what they are feeling as best as they can.
* Get Help ~ Call a crisis intervention line that specializes in suicide or seek local organizations that can help with suicide prevention. Do not try to fix the problem alone. If the person is in immediate danger of killing themselves dial 911 immediately.
Signs Someone May Be Suicidal
Sometimes there are no signs given when a person is suicidal. People are left horrified and shocked because they had no clue in those instances. In many cases though, there are different signs a person gives when they are suicidal that might clue you in to what is about to happen or what they are contemplating on doing. Some of these signs might include:
* They seem to feel intensely down on a seemingly constant basis.
* They withdraw and stop doing thing they normally love to do.
* Have trouble sleeping – either suddenly sleeping very little or way too much.
* Engage in reckless behaviors such as reckless driving or having sex unprotected.
* Excessive use of drugs or alcohol or both.
* Sudden change in personality by them acting completely opposite of what they normally would.
* They express feelings of having no purpose in life or worthlessness.
* Suddenly making a purchase for a gun or medications.
* Sudden calmness might indicate they made their decision to die and are at peace with it. This coupled with a level of preparation by giving away prized possessions and creating wills or making special visits could indicate they are troubled.
* Flat out threatening to commit suicide or mentioning a strong desire to die.
If someone you know is exhibiting some of these warning signs and you feel they might be suicidal, please take the time to reach out to them and try to help. Take it seriously and take action for them!
Risk Factors for Suicide
There are several risk factors that are indicators for individuals that might be more prone to attempt suicide. There is usually not just one factor that causes them to kill themselves. It is usually a combination of a few things that triggered them to do it. These factors can be biological and even environmental. Depression is one of the main causes of suicide especially if left untreated. Many of the risk factors discussed here can lead to severe depression in turn making someone feel like they have no choice but to attempt suicide.
Here is a list of some risk factors that are sometimes associated with suicidal individuals in no particular order:
* Depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia
* Drug/alcohol abuse
* Anxiety disorders
* Personality disorders
* Having a chronic illness
* History of abuse
* Genetics…family history of depression and or suicide
* Previous attempts at suicide
* Sudden life crisis like the loss of job, break up, separation or divorce
* Death of someone close to them
* Sudden trauma like being a victim of a horrible crime like rape or assault
* Having feelings of being left out or not accepted by family or society as a whole
* Bullying
