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Risk of suicide 

If you or someone you know is suicidal or in a crisis:

Call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or call 911 immediately

It can be frightening if someone talks about suicidal thoughts. It can be even more frightening if a person finds themselves thinking about dying or giving up on life. Not taking these kinds of thoughts seriously can have devastating outcomes, as suicide is a permanent solution to (often) temporary problems. 

According to the CDC and NIMH, suicide rates have increased by 35% since 1999. More than 48,000 lives were lost to suicide in 2018 alone. Comments or thoughts about suicide (also known as suicidal ideation) can begin small like, "I wish i wasn't here" or "Nothing matters." But over time, they can become more explicit and dangerous.  

Warning signs 

Here are a few warning signs of suicide:

  • Increased alcohol or drug use. 

  • Aggressive behavior. 

  • Withdrawal from friends, family, and community.

  • Dramatic mood swings.

  • Impulsive or reckless behavior. 

  • Collecting and saving pills or buying a weapon. 

  • Giving away possessions. 

  • Tying up loose ends, like organizing personal papers or paying off debts.

  • Saying goodbye to friends and family. 

See also: Signs Something Might Be Wrong

Suicidal behaviors are a psychiatric emergency. If someone starts to take some of these steps, seek immediate help from a health care provider or call 911.

Risk Factors 

Research has found that 46% of people who die by suicide had a known mental health condition. Several other things may put a person at risk of suicide, including: 

  • A family history of suicide.

  • Substance use. Drugs can create mental highs and lows that worsen suicidal thoughts. 

  • Intoxication. More than 1 in 3 people who die from suicide were under the influence of alcohol at the time of death.

  • Access to firearms. 

  • A serious or chronic medical illness.

  • Gender. Although more women attempt suicide, men are 4x more likely to die by suicide.

  • A history of trauma or abuse.

  • Prolonged stress.

  • A recent tragedy or loss.

Support in a crisis 

When a suicide-related crisis occurs, friends and family are often caught off-guard, unprepared, and unsure of what to do. The behaviors of a person experiencing a crisis can be unpredictable and change dramatically without warning.   

There are a few ways to approach a suicide-crisis:

  • Talk openly and honestly. Don't be afraid to ask questions like: "Do you have a plan for how you would kill yourself?" 

  • Remove means such as guns, knives, razors, and stockpiled pills.

  • Calmly ask simple and direct questions like: "Can I help you call your psychiatrist?" 

  • If there are multiple people around, have one person speak at a time.

  • Express support and concern. 

  • Don't argue, threaten, or raise your voice. 

  • Don't debate whether suicide is right or wrong.

  • If nervous, try not to fidget or pace.

  • Be patient.

See also: How to Help a Friend Who's Struggling

Like any other health emergency, it's important to address a mental health crisis like suicide quickly and effectively. Unlike other health emergencies, mental health crises don't have instructions or resources on how to help or what to expect (like the Heimlich Maneuver or CPR). That's why our partner NAMI created Navigating a Mental Health Crisis: a NAMI Resource Guide for Those Experiencing a Mental Health Emergency. 

Suicide is not the answer. There is hope.