Suicide Warning Signs
Natalie Staats Reiss, Ph.D., and Mark Dombeck, Ph.D.Having suicidal thoughts is the most important and most common warning sign for suicidality. If you regularly focus on themes of suicide or death in conversation, you may be at risk. This could include talking about giving up on life, or how others would be better off without you), thinking, writing, music or artwork. Even though not all suicidal thoughts represent an emergency, such thinking is a signal, and should be taken seriously. You should seek help from trained mental health professionals as soon as possible. Don't let suicidal thoughts continue unchecked and potentially become worse. This type of thinking may also be a symptom of an ongoing mental health problem (such as depression) which can often be successfully treated.
In addition to suicidal ideation, there are other potential danger signals that suggest increased suicide risk. These signs may occur in isolation, or in pairs and combinations. The presence of any of these warning signs may also indicate that you are experiencing a mental or physical disorder in addition to being suicidal; so, make sure to investigate the cause of any unusual or worrisome changes.
Additional warning signs of suicide can include:
- decreased performance in school or work
- an unusual desire for social isolation
- a decrease in self-esteem
- increased emotionality (anger, agitation, anxiety, hopelessness, sadness, etc.)
- a sudden decrease in emotionality; particularly, a movement from depression or agitation to remarkable and uncharacteristic calm
- uncharacteristic behaviors or emotions
- uncharacteristic carelessness concerning personal safety
- increased drug and/or alcohol use
- an urge to tie up loose ends (e.g., giving away personal items, making a will)
If you have a history of depression, or are recently recovering from a depressive episode, you may also be at risk. It seems weird to think that because you are getting better, you might be more suicidal. However, an increased level of energy coming off a depression may be just the boost you needed to propel you to plan and act upon your suicidal feelings.
As mentioned, your level of risk has increased if you have moved beyond just thinking about killing yourself to a process of planning how suicide can be accomplished. Suicidal people will often start assembling their "suicide kit" (e.g., those tools and ingredients they will need to end their life according to their chosen method). For instance, someone who has decided to overdose herself on pills may start stockpiling medicines. Someone who has decided to shoot himself may purchase a gun or ammunition. Attempts to obtain tools that might be used for suicide can thus also be a warning sign of suicide-risk.
If your suicidality has progressed to the point where you are presently engaged in assembling the means of your suicide, you are in acute, immediate and substantial danger of harming yourself.
Resources
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Articles
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The Nature of Suicide
- The Nature of Suicide
- Defining Suicide
- Suicide: A Reactive Action
- Suicide Statistics
- Other Factors Contributing to Suicide Risk
- Suicide Triggers
- Suicide Triggers Continued
- Tying it All Together: Why Does Someone Become Suicidal?
- Becoming Suicidal: Biological Contributions
- Becoming Suicidal: Sociocultural Contributions
- Suicide Prevention and Societal Measures
- Websites
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Coping with Suicidality
- Coping with Suicidality
- How did you get to this suicidal place?
- Why does suicide seem like a solution to your problem(s)?
- How do you know your level of suicide risk?
- Suicide Warning Signs
- Suicide: What Should I Do if I'm Suicidal?
- Suicide: What will happen to you when you ask for help?
- Outpatient Suicide Treatment-Finding A Psychotherapist
- The Initial Suicide Treatment Interview
- Jeremy's Story
- Follow-up Suicide Therapy Visits
- Suicide: Other Things You Can Do to Help Keep Yourself Safe
- Suicide and Self Harm Resources
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Helping A Friend or Family Member who is Suicidal
- Helping a Friend or Family Member Who is Suicidal
- Understanding Suicidal Crises
- Why Do People Become Suicidal and What Can I do to Help?
- How Can I Judge the Level of Suicide Risk?
- What Are Other Suicide Warning Signs?
- What Happens When a Suicidal Person Asks for Help?
- How Do We Find a Therapist for Suicide Outpatient Treatment?
- What Else Can I Do to Help a Suicidal Family Member or Friend?
- How Do I Handle My Own Reactions Following a Suicide or a Suicide Attempt?
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The Nature of Suicide
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Questions and Answers
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Book & Media Reviews
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Links
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Videos
- Developing the Family Intervention for Suicide Prevention (FISP)
- Addressing the Rise of Teen Suicide
- Feeling down? Let's talk - Prevention of suicide among adolescents
- NPW 2017: Suicide and Substance Use in Young People
- Addressing Suicide
- Suicide Warning Signs
- How to Ask if Someone is Suicidal
- Suicide Tops Injury Deaths
- Assessment and Intervention with Suicidal Clients: Volume 2
- Assessment and Intervention with Suicidal Clients: Volume 1
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- Assessment and Intervention with Suicidal Clients: Volume 3
- Preventing suicide: a global imperative
- Youth Suicide Risk
- Preventing Death by Suicide-Strategies to Help Children, Youth and Families
- The bridge between suicide and life
- Beyond the Data -- Preventing Suicide: A Comprehensive Public Health Approach
- Preventing Suicide: A Comprehensive Public Health Approach
- For Those Considering Suicide
- How to Help Someone Who is Suicidal
- Teen Suicide Prevention
- Reach Out - Preventing Teen Suicide
- Suicide Prevention with Lynn Keane
- Addressing Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Substance Abuse Treatment
- Suicide Signs
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