Warning Signs

These are the warning signs for suicide from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Any of these signs warrant intervention. Please call the 24-hour Suicide and Crisis Hotline 988. 

Talking about: 

• Wanting to die

• Great guilt or shame

• Being a burden to others

Feeling:

• Empty, hopeless, trapped, or having no will to live

• Extremely sad, more anxious, agitated, or full of rage

• Unbearable emotional or physical pain 

Changing Behavior:

• Making a plan or researching ways to die

• Withdrawing from friends, saying goodbye, giving away important items, or making a will

• Taking dangerous risks such as driving extremely fast

• Displaying extreme mood swings

• Eating or sleeping more or less

• Using drugs or alcohol more often

Let's Break the Stigma

We must deconstruct the myths around suicide if we hope to break the stigma. Here are some of these myths: 

• Asking someone about suicide may plant the idea in their minds.

• Suicidal people are fully intent on dying.

• Everyone who dies by suicide is depressed.

• A sudden improvement in emotional state after a suicide attempt or a depressive period indicates the suicide risk is over.

• Suicide is selfish or immoral.

A 2018 study in the British Journal of Psychiatry found that only about 50% of the study participants had shared their feelings with family members or friends when they felt suicidal. The researchers attributed this to the social stigma of suicide. When we minimize this stigma, our community members will be more inclined to share suicidal feelings with others, increasing the likelihood they will receive the help they desperately need. 

Supporting 

If you or any of your friends have had thoughts of suicide, the most important thing to do is to talk immediately with an adult you trust. 

Sometimes friends tell us things in confidence and make us promise not to tell anyone else. You may have done this yourself. Secrets can take on a life of their own and become even more powerful because they’re private.  

Keeping the secret of suicide doesn’t help anyone—it actually makes things worse. 

Ask. “It sounds like things are really rough right now, and I am concerned about you. Are you thinking about killing yourself?” It’s not an easy question, but research show that asking at-risk individuals if they are suicidal does not increase suicides or suicidal thoughts.

Keep them safe. Reducing a suicidal person’s access to highly lethal items or places is an important part of suicide prevention. While this is not always easy, asking if the at-risk person has a plan and removing or disabling the lethal means can make a difference.

Be there. Listen carefully and learn what the individual is thinking and feeling. Research suggests acknowledging and talking about suicide may reduce rather than increase suicidal thoughts.

Help them connect. Save the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s number 988 in your phone, so it’s there when you need it. You can also help make a connection with a trusted individual like a family member, friend, spiritual advisor, or mental health professional. Refer to our Community Directory  for additional resources.

Stay connected. Staying in touch after a crisis or after being discharged from care can make a difference. Research shows that the number of suicide deaths goes down when someone follows up with the at-risk person.

Parents, Caregivers, and Teachers 

If you or any of your friends have had thoughts of suicide, the most important thing to do is to talk immediately with an adult you trust. 

Here are the American Academy of Pediatrics' 12 steps Parents, Caregivers, and Teachers can utilize to support suicide prevention:

1. If you see signs that your child's mental health is under threat, tune in. Open up a conversation about mental health, especially when notice a mood change lasting for more than a few days. Here are some ideas for talking about mental health with your teen and/or their primary care provider. 

2. Listen - even when your child is not talking. Often, teens will not want to talk about mental health with you. Look for other sins of distress and be persistent in showing them how much you love and care about them. 

3. Realize your child might be facing suicide risks you haven't considered yet. Here is a list of risk factors for adolescent suicide. Be familiar with these risk factors. 

4. Try not to dismiss what you see as "teenage drama".  Take every single statement about suicide seriously. Do not dismiss comments like, "I want to die" or "You won't have to worry about me much longer". 

5. Respond with empathy and understanding. Manage your emotions, then respond. Hearing a child you care deeply for say things suggesting they are considering suicide can be extremely difficult to hear. Take a deep breath or count to ten, then respond with empathy. Here are some ideas:

"It sounds like you're in tremendous pain and you can't see a way out."

"Maybe you're wondering how life got this complicated and difficult."

"Right now, you're not sure of the answers to the problems you're facing."

"You must really, really be hurting inside to consider ending your life."

6. Get professional help right away. 

If your teen is self-harming, or you sense they're at risk for attempting suicide, take them to the emergency department of your local hospital. Fast action is crucial when things have reached a crisis point.

If you see signs of suicidal thoughts but don't sense an immediate crisis, you still need to take action. Reach out to your pediatrician or local mental health providers who treat children and teens. Explain what you're seeing and hearing and schedule a mental health evaluation.

7. Remove or secure guns and/or lethal substances in your home. 

Half of youth suicides occur with firearms—and suicide attempts with firearms are almost always fatal. By far, the safest option is to remove guns and ammunition from your home while your teen is struggling with thoughts of suicide. Many families turn guns over to relatives or other trusted individuals to help safeguard their teen during a vulnerable time.

Safe home storage is the second-best option. Locking and unloading all guns, with ammunition stored and locked in a separate space, does reduce the risk of tragedy – but only if your teen doesn't know the combination to the lock or where the key is hidden. Disassembling guns and storing the components separately and locked is another option.

Other potentially lethal substances and items include: alcohol, illicit drugs, household drugs, household cleaners and poisonous products, canned dusting products, inhalants, antifreeze, knives, razors, weapons, ropes, belts, and plastic bags.

8. If your child need treatment, focus on creating hope.  Remind yourself and your child that these struggles will not last forever. 

9. Encourage your child to see family and friends. Encourage community and connection, while respecting your teen's boundaries. For example, don't force or guilt them in to attending a certain event, like a birthday party. Instead, ask them how they would like to spend time with friends and family on their own terms, then follow through to help make their preferences a reality. 

10. Suggest exercise. Exercise will stimulate serotonin and endorphins, hormones that improve mood, manage stress, and promote restful sleep. 

11. Encourage balance and moderation. Balance and moderation are the keys to overall mental, physical, and emotional wellness. 

12. Remind each other that recovery takes time. Setbacks are often part of the process, but remind each other you are on the same team. Make sure your child knows you are in their corner. 

Student Care Lines

A student care line provides students and the community with easy access to report any potential behaviors of concern in others that might indicate a need for further attention. Each school site has a number or email address that can be used to alert school staff about the safety or well-being of others. Each member of our community has the ability to make a positive difference in the life of someone who needs help. If you see something, say something, and let’s take care of each other by making a confidential report. Once a report is received, the school site will evaluate the situation to ensure the student(s) have the needed support and resources to get back on track! 

Utilize this link for up-to-date student CAREText lines for each school.