Prevention: Signs of Suicide

Hello Trailblazers,

This week we will be discussing Suicide Prevention and identifying signs and symptoms of individuals with suicidal ideations(thoughts or plans of suicide). It is a complex topic that cannot be linked to one cause. Many factors can lead to increased risk of someone to consider suicide. Over 90% of suicide victims had a mental health disorder usually or including depression. Other risk factors include substance abuse, self injury/self harm, those who have been impacted by suicide, those experiencing homelessness and LGBTQ teenagers.

Depression and suicidal behavior can project in different ways other than just being in a sad mood. It can be difficult to spot for certain people. A misconception about depression is that teenagers do not experience it, but are dealing with emotional difficulties of growing up. This is not true, Many people who struggle with depression experience it during their adolescence. We can expect levels of mental health issues to increase as those who experience prolonged quarantine are more likely to have PTSD, avoidance behaviors, anger issues, and higher prevalence of depression symptoms.

Signs of suicidal ideation:

• Changes in sleep patterns; sleeping a lot less or more than a person used to

• Being angry or irritable

• Feelings of hopelessness around the future

• Isolation from friends and loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed doing

• Giving away sentimental or important possessions

What can you do if you a worried about a friend?

A.C.T. (Acknowledge, Care, Tell)

Acknowledge signs of suicide in a friend

Show your friend you Care

Tell a trusted adult

How would you use these steps?

If you see signs of depression, suicide, or any other problem in someone you know: Tell them in a caring way that you recognize that they are having a problem. You can show you care by actively listening. This means putting aside anything else you are doing, making eye contact, sitting down, and asking questions. Once you listen to your friend, tell them that it’s important that you speak with an adult, such as a parent, teacher, counselor, or someone else you trust, so that the person can get the help they need. You can figure out who that person may be together. Offer to go with your friend to tell the adult.