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Suicide Warning Signs

Suicide Help and Prevention
 

Seeking Help for Emotional Crisis

There’s No Wrong Door When Seeking Help for Emotional Crisis & Suicide Prevention

Depression is a major cause of suicide. Depression is a mood disorder that can occur at anytime across the lifespan. While environmental stressors may trigger it, we now know that depression has certain physiological components, especially in the brain.

The risk for suicide increases when the depressed person abuses drugs and/or alcohol. For most people, depression is highly treatable. Anybody can be at risk. Persons with severe and persistent mental illness are also at high risk for suicide. Other vulnerable populations are older adults and youth between the ages of 15 and 24.

Suicide Warning Signs
 

  • Previous attempts

  • Feeling depressed

  • Talking about death and suicide; may also use other forms of expression

  • Giving away prized possessions

  • Taking unnecessary, dangerous risks

  • Having a predetermined method of suicide or a plan and sharing it

  • Appearing suddenly happy after a long depression

  • Withdrawing from family and friends

  • Losing interest in regular activities

  • Changing eating and sleeping habits

Key Factors
 

  • Access to firearms. People who use firearms in their suicide attempt are more likely to die. Seventy percent who complete suicide use a gun.

  • Significant loss. Death, separation, divorce, moving and ending a relationship are critical risk factors.

  • Family conflict or rejection.

  • Family history. Being the survivor of a family member’s suicide increases the risk of completing the suicide by six times.

  • Childhood trauma. Violence to children is a strong risk factor for suicide when they become teens and adults, particularly victims of child sexual abuse.

NAMI, the country’s voice on mental illness, is a national organization of persons with mental illness, their families, friends and community activists who work toward improving the lives of the mentally ill.

NAMI Portage County Chapter
Call the Mental Health & Recovery Board at 330-673-1756, ext. 201, for information.

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MEETINGS: Second and fourth Thursdays of the month at 7pm

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LOCATION: Mental Health & Recovery Board Office, 155 E. Main St., Kent, OH


Family-to-Family Education Program
Call the Mental Health & Recovery Board at 330-673-1756, ext. 201, to register for the next class. Family-to-Family is a free, 12-week, comprehensive education course taught by family members who have been specially trained.

Contact us by email and click here for more information.

What You Can Do to Help a Depressed or Suicidal Person
 

Listen:
Listen carefully. Show your concern.Allow him or her to express feelings. Don’t judge or tell the person how she or he should be feeling.

Talk:
Don’t be afraid to talk about suicide.Ask directly if he or she is considering suicide. Ask concerned questions. Express your own concerns in a nonjudgmental manner.

Remember this when helping someone in crisis:
Don’t try to handle it alone. Don’t swear yourself to secrecy. Don’t ignore the situation, hoping things will improve. Don’t leave the person alone. Don’t minimize suicidal feelings.

Get help:
Arrange for the person to get professional help quickly. If she or he refuses, get help anyway.

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