There seems to be a lot of posts on GAG concerning suicide and people with suicidal thoughts. Therefore, my goal with writing this is to try to not only reach out to those who may be suffering but also to reach out to everyone in order to have open and honest communication and discussion about this touchy subject.
1. Understanding the causes of suicide and suicidal thoughts
Suicidal thoughts or tendencies can be caused by numerous factors and often, it is a combination of things affecting the person. Some risk factors may include:
- Family history of mental disorders (particularly depression) or substance abuse
- Family history of suicide
- Family violence
- Physical or sexual abuse
- Chronic physical illness or chronic pain
- Isolation, feelings of being cut off from other people and feelings of hopelessness
- Loss (loss of employement, financial issues, death of a close friend or family member, etc.)
- Bullying (either physically or mentally/emotionally, including cyber bullying)
Unfortunately, many people with suicidal thoughts do not seek help due to the stigma attached to mental health and suicide. This is why it's important to take people with suicidal thoughts seriously and try to get them help when you realize there may be a problem.
2. Warning signs of suicide
The warning signs are not always obvious, some people are very good at hiding it. However, in some cases, there may be some signs present which could indicate that someone may be suffering from suicidal thoughts.
- Clinical depression (deep sadness, loss of interests in things that the person once enjoyed, trouble sleeping or eating, etc.)
- Making comments about being hopeless, helpless, or worthless
- Saying things like "it would be better if I wasn't here" or "No one would miss me or care if I was gone"
- Mentioning suicide directly
3. Common misconceptions of suicide
"People who talk about suicide won't really do it."
Of course there are always exceptions but most people who talk are serious about it and this is their way of reaching out to someone. So don't ignore or minimize suicide threats. No matter how casually or jokingly some people mention suicide, it may indicate serious suicidal feelings.
"Anyone who tries to kill him/herself must be crazy."
Most suicidal people are not insane. They may be upset, grief-stricken, or depressed and some may suffer from certain other mental disorders but these are not the same thing as psychosis or insanity. Psychosis is a disconnect from reality. People who suffer from psychosis or insanity may have false beliefs about what is taking place or suffer from hallucinations or delusions. Therefore, some people who are suicidal may suffer from psychosis, but certainly not all. Most are mainly suffering from depression or one of the other risk factors mentioned above.
"If a person is determined to kill him/herself, nothing is going to stop him/her."
Even severely depressed people have mixed feelings about death, and most go back and forth between having the will to live and wanting to end their pain. Most suicidal people do not want to die; they just want their pain to stop.
"Talking about suicide may give someone the idea."
A suicidal person does not get ideas of suicide by simply talking about it. The opposite is true, bringing up the subject of suicide and discussing it openly and honestly is one of the most helpful things you can do.
4. Reaching out and working to prevent suicide
In many cases, people who are suffering from having suicidal thoughts need someone who is willing to listen, be understanding, and non-judgemental. If someone does mention that they have suicidal thoughts or if they specifically come to you, don't just immediately brush them off. Take the time to talk to them. I will admit, it can be frustrating trying to help someone who doesn't seem to want help or if they just don't seem to care about your advice, but regardless, it is still important to at least try to remain empathetic and if they don't want your advice, at least let them know that you are there as a support network for them.
There are a variety of resources available for those suffering from suicidal thoughts. One of the main ones is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
- Phone number: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
- Website: https://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Another good resource is helpguide.org which goes into detail about coping with suicidal thoughts.
- https://www.helpguide.org/articles/suicide-prevention/suicide-help-dealing-with-your-suicidal-thoughts-and-feelings.htm
If you want to learn more about preventing suicide, please look here: https://www.sprc.org/basics
Having a good support system can be very beneficial for those dealing with suicidal tendencies. If they at least know that SOMEONE, even just one person cares and is willing to listen, then that can have a big impact on helping them.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, I hope it was helpful and informative. Feel free to leave a comment if you have anything to add or if you just want to talk about this issue. However, please keep all comments civil. Thanks.
Sources:
https://www.save.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewPage&page_id=705EC833-E77D-2519-FA362EDFA62268C7&r=1&CFID=11234850&CFTOKEN=50fcc3cccafb9cb6-DEA0908C-C29A-2288-27056ECE4ECA7ECA
https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/suicide/riskprotectivefactors.html
https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depression-recognizing-signs-of-suicide
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