Notes on Suicide

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Urge the person to stay away from alcohol and drug use. Using drugs or alcohol may seem to ease painful feelings, but it makes things worse. It can lead to unsafe behaviors or feeling more depressed. If the person needs help quitting, offer to help find treatment. Offer to help them find a healthcare provider, make a phone call, or go with them to their first appointment. You should never try to manage suicidal feelings entirely on your own. Getting professional help and support from loved ones can make it easier to overcome any challenges that are causing these feelings. After an attempt. American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. https://afsp.org/find-support/ive-made-attempt/after-an-attempt/. Accessed Feb. 20, 2018.

As indicated in LIVE LIFE: An implementation guide for suicide prevention in countries, knowledge of the most commonly used suicide methods is important to devise prevention strategies which have shown to be effective, such as restriction of access to means of suicide. Prevention and control Ask your loved one if they can think of reasons to live. Devising a list of reasons to live can reduce the power of suicidal feelings. If your loved one is unable to devise such a list, don’t judge, argue with, or shame them.Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Advertising & Sponsorship As a clinical psychologist, I probably think about suicide more often and in different ways than most. I’ve read the research. I’ve been trained to ask the hard questions. I am all too familiar with the frustrating gaps in our knowledge base: what causes it, who is at risk, how do we prevent it? I understand the stigma and misconceptions surrounding it, and I know, firsthand, the collateral damage that stems from it. Stubner S, et al. (2018). Suicidal ideation andsuicidal behavior as rare adverse events of antidepressant medication: Currentreport from the AMSP multicenter drug safety surveillance project. DOI: Suicide is preventable, and bystanders can help. If you need help for yourself or someone you love, you can call the following phone numbers for help:

Many organizations and support groups can help you cope with suicidal thoughts and recognize that suicide isn’t the best way to deal with stressful life events. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a great resource. Take medications as directed Suicide is a serious public health problem; however, suicides are preventable with timely, evidence-based and often low-cost interventions. For national responses to be effective, a comprehensive multisectoral suicide prevention strategy is needed. Who is at risk? Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Whether you’re a loved one who’s concerned about someone or you’re struggling yourself, help is available. Don’t keep silent — you may help save a life.

Risk factors

Substance use. Misusing alcohol or drugs often contributes to suicidal thoughts and behavior. If substance use is an underlying problem, an alcohol or drug addiction rehabilitation program may be the first step. We know that it is okay to talk about suicide, even with someone who might be thinking about it,” Reidenberg said. “Doing so does not make them want to die more or lead them to attempt suicide. In fact, talking with someone who is thinking about this can reduce their level of anxiety, distress, and hopelessness and encourage them to seek help. Research shows that if you’re worried about someone, talk to them. It’s okay to do that.” Personal Perspective: From a place of devastation, paving the way to greater neurodiverse inclusivity.

It’s terrifying when a partner or other loved one threatens to harm themselves, especially in the middle of an already tense situation. Though it can be challenging to remain calm, the first step is to assess the situation: If the partner has a clear plan to die by suicide or can easily access the means to do so, get immediate help—either by calling your local emergency number or reaching out to a suicide hotline in your country. Self-harm—or the act of deliberately inflicting pain or damage to one's own body—is often conflated with suicidal ideation or intention. But though some people who self-harm do also have thoughts of suicide, that isn't universally the case. Self-harm can be dangerous in itself, however, and indicates some degree of mental unwellness, even absent any suicidal thoughts; thus, anyone who is self-harming, or has a loved one who is doing so, should seek help as soon as possible, regardless of the behavior's connection to suicidality. Work with your healthcare provider or therapist to learn about the possible triggers for your suicidal feelings. This will help you recognize the signs of danger early on and decide what steps to take ahead of time. Encourage the person to go to the emergency room or to a crisis mental health facility. If you can, offer to go with them so they feel less alone.

Ashley J. Smith

Talking about death is considered taboo by many and can trigger feelings of discomfort, and it’s natural to feel worried if a loved one brings it up frequently for seemingly no reason. But talking about death, in itself, is not necessarily an indicator that someone is suicidal; they may be grappling with their own mortality, have recently lost someone, or are just curious aboutthe fleeting nature of human existence. Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741. The Crisis Text Line is a free text messaging resource offering 24/7 support to anyone in crisis.