Suicide Prevention

All of us can play a role in suicide prevention by learning the warning signs of suicide, having open conversations about suicide and familiarizing ourselves with crisis resources.

Warning Signs for Suicide

Often people at risk for suicide show some signs that they are thinking about suicide. The signs may appear in conversations, through their actions, or in social media posts. If you are concerned about someone and observe one or more of the following warning signs, trust your instincts and reach out. This is especially urgent if the behavior is new or has increased, or seems related to a painful event, loss, or change.

Warning Signs to Looks For:

  • Talking about suicide or wanting to die
  • Having thoughts of suicide that are intense, pervasive, or difficult to control
  • Looking for a way to kill themselves
  • Feeling hopeless, desperate, trapped
  • Experiencing overwhelming emotional pain
  • Feeling like a burden on others
  • Giving away possessions or putting affairs in order
  • Reckless behavior or engaging in risky activities
  • Uncontrolled anger, rage, or wanting revenge
  • Increased drug or alcohol use
  • Withdrawing or isolating oneself from activities
  • Anxiety, panic, or agitation 
  • Changes in sleep, especially persistent insomnia, increased nightmares, or irregular sleeping
  • Sudden mood changes, especially if depressed or sad
  • No sense of purpose or reason to live

Asking about Suicide

If you are worried that someone may be having thoughts of suicide, talk to them about your concerns and ask directly, “Are you thinking about suicide or feeling that life may not be worth living?”

Talking about suicide will not inspire someone to consider suicide if they weren’t already thinking about it. Usually, people are relieved to be asked. Asking directly and using the word “suicide” establishes that you and the person at risk are talking about the same thing and lets the person know that you are willing to talk. 

If you think the individual is at risk for suicide, take it seriously. Don’t leave them alone. Call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 at any time for assistance or call 911 for life-threatening emergencies.

Even when there is no immediate crisis, you can reach out to those in your life and let them know that you are comfortable to talk about anything they need, including suicide, and should they ever come to a point where they are questioning their reasons for living, you will be there to listen and support them. Creating this safe space at a time when there is no crisis is one way we can play a role in suicide prevention.

For more tips on how to have a conversation about suicide with a loved one, visit the “Find the Words” section of the Know the Signs opens in a new window website.

Connecting

You are not alone in helping someone in crisis. Crisis lines, counselors, intervention programs, and more are available to you as well as to the person experiencing a crisis. These resources can quickly assess the level of risk in a situation and connect you to appropriate services. Most suicidal crises last for a brief period of time. Stay with the person and remove items that could be used in an attempt. Follow-up afterward by calling, texting, or visiting to ask how the person is doing and to see if additional support is needed.

Visit the Community Resources page for community resources and the Find Help Now page for information about crisis lines.

Actions to take if someone reveals that they are thinking about suicide

If anyone has ever revealed to you that they were thinking about suicide, you know how difficult it can be. The fear of saying or doing the wrong thing, or not enough, can be overwhelming. Stay with the person and remember that most crises take only minutes to hours to resolve. Engage the person in a supportive conversation and make a plan together. The safest response might be to call 911 to engage first responders, such as law enforcement, firefighters and EMTs. If you suspect that someone is about to or has already harmed themselves and requires medical attention, or if you are in danger, you should call 911.

While calling 911 is the best option in certain situations, a less intensive response may be more helpful in other situations. Crisis lines are designed to quickly assess the level of risk in a situation and connect the caller to the appropriate services. If you call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline opens in a new windowopens phone dialer or one of its member crisis centers in California, the call will be answered by someone trained to assess suicide risk and conduct a phone-based intervention designed to reduce the risk. Many lifeline/crisis center calls are life-saving interventions, and they are equipped to call 911 on the person’s behalf if they believe a suicide attempt has occurred or the person’s life is in imminent danger.

Crisis lines are useful in a range of situations, from direct intervention to someone in an acute crisis, to calling yourself to talk about how you might help someone you are concerned about. Crisis lines can also help you or the person in crisis to find a mental health provider in your community.

Sometimes the best way to identify what steps to take is to ask the person what they think will help keep them safe. Since most suicidal crises last for a brief period of time, staying with the person (as long as the scene is not unsafe) and connecting them to resources and ongoing support when the situation has calmed down might be the most effective course of action.

Safety Planning

Safety planning is about brainstorming ways to stay safe, that may also reduce the risk of harm in the future. It includes information that is specific to the individual, their life, and their personal coping skills that can increase their safety at school, home, work, or other places that they may go to on a daily basis.

A safety plan can be used to help a person identify their own coping skills and support options. SuicideSafetyPlan.com offers further information on how to develop an effective safety plan. You may also consider downloading the “Stanley-Brown Safety Plan’ mobile app on Iphone or Google Play.

If you are thinking about suicide, visit the Now Matters Now opens in a new window website which features personal stories by those who have survived suicidal thoughts by using research-based coping strategies. Their website also offers a safety plan opens in a new window, along with additional resources.