Editor’s Note:
If you’re in an emergency situation, call 9-1-1. If this isn’t an emergency and MYgroup is your EAP/SAP, contact us at 1.800.633.3353. If you are facing a mental health crisis but MYgroup is not your EAP/SAP, call or text 9-8-8 to be connected to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States and a major public health concern. When a person dies by suicide, the effects are felt by family, friends, and communities. This blog post aims to help you learn more about the warning signs of suicide so that more suicides can be prevented.
What is Suicide?
Suicide is when people harm themselves with the goal of ending their life, and they die as a result. A suicide attempt is when people harm themselves with the goal of ending their life, but they do not die. Avoid using terms such as “committing suicide,” or “failed suicide” when referring to a suicide and suicide attempt as they often carry negative meanings.
Who is at risk of Suicide?
People of all genders, ages, and ethnicities can be at risk of suicide. The main risk factors of suicide are:
- A history of suicide attempts
- Depression, or other mental disorders, or substance use disorder
- Chronic pain
- Family history of mental disorder or substance use
- Family history of suicide
- Exposure to family violence, including physical or sexual abuse
- Presence of firearms in the home
- Having recently been released from prison or jail
- Exposure, either directly or indirectly, to others’ suicidal behavior, such as that of family members, peers, or celebrities
Most people who have risk factors for suicide will not attempt suicide, and it is difficult to tell who will act on suicidal thoughts. Although risk factors for suicide are important to keep in mind, someone who is showing warning signs of suicide may be at higher risk for danger and need immediate attention.
Stressful life events (such as the loss of a loved one, legal troubles, or financial difficulties) and interpersonal stressors (such as shame, harassment, bullying, discrimination, or relationship troubles) may contribute to suicide risk, especially when they occur along with suicide risk factors.
Suicide Myths & Facts
A great deal of misinformation surrounds the subject of suicide, and some of it gets in the way of people seeking needed help or providing effective help to loved ones. Gaining an understanding of the realities of suicide can help you move past the stigma and do the right thing for yourself and the people you care about. Here are some common myths about suicide, each countered with the facts.
Suicide Myth:
If someone is struggling emotionally, it’s dangerous to talk with them about suicide.
Fact:
While it can be uncomfortable to ask someone who’s struggling if they have had thoughts of suicide, it could be the question that saves their life. Studies show that asking directly about suicidal thoughts gives a person permission to talk about what they are going through. Talking about difficult thoughts and emotions is an important step toward getting help.
When you ask tough questions like this, listen to the response with empathy. Don’t judge or criticize the person, and don’t offer simple solutions or try to “solve” their problem. Show that you care, be there for the person, do what you can to keep them safe, and try to connect them to effective help and support.
Suicide Myth:
People who talk about suicide are just trying to get attention.
Fact:
When someone talks about suicide, they are revealing deep pain and reaching out for help. Take them seriously. Listen to what they tell you and help them get the support they need.
Suicide Myth:
Only people with mental illness are at risk of suicide.
Fact:
Emotional pain and misery from relationship issues, financial strains, legal worries, injury, illness, chronic pain, the death of a loved one, and other traumas and crises can all lead to suicidal thoughts and acts, even among people with no known mental health issues. While mental health conditions such as depression are associated with suicidal risk, these may not be recognized until after a person’s death.
Suicide Myth:
Suicide occurs without warning.
Fact:
There are almost always warning signs before a suicide attempt. Talk of death or hopelessness, withdrawal from friends and family, mood swings, personality changes, giving away valued possessions, and obtaining lethal means can all be indications of suicidal risk. Warning signs aren’t present before every suicide, but when they are, they should be noticed and taken seriously.
Suicide Myth:
Suicide can’t be prevented.
Fact:
Suicide can be prevented with caring intervention and support. Most people who are suicidal don’t want to die. They want unbearable feelings of pain, misery, or hopelessness to stop, and they see no alternative. Asking questions, listening, being a caring presence, reducing access to lethal means, and connecting a person with needed support can all help to prevent suicide.
Suicide Myth:
Suicide is a sign of weakness or selfishness.
Fact:
People who die by suicide don’t take their lives for selfish reasons. They are in psychological pain and see no other way to obtain relief. When mental health conditions are a factor, chemical imbalances in the brain can play a role by distorting their thoughts. The danger of this myth is that it can cause loved ones to turn away from someone who has suicidal thoughts just when the person needs help and a new sense of hope.
Suicide Myth:
When people become suicidal, they will always be suicidal.
Fact:
Suicidal thoughts and impulses don’t last forever. An estimated one in five people have thoughts of suicide at some time in their lives, but only a small fraction of those are at risk of suicide at any given time. With help, support, and a safety plan, people who have been suicidal can reduce the emotional pain that drove their suicidal impulses and stay safe through life’s ups and downs.
Questions or interested in learning more about our products and services? Contact Us
Additional Resources
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Mental Health America
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Suicide Prevention
References
https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts
Curtin, S.C., Warner, M. & Hedegaard, H. (2016, April). Increase in suicide in the United States, 1999-2014 (NCHS Data Brief No. 241). Retrieved January 11, 2023, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov
U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (Revised 2021). Frequently asked questions about suicide (NIH Pub. No. 21-MH-6389). Retrieved January 11, 2023, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov.
Hedegaard, H., Curtin, S.C. & Warner, M. (2021, February). Suicide mortality in the United States, 1999-2019 (National Center for Health Statistics [NCSH] Data Brief No. 398). Retrieved January 11, 2023, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website: https://www.cdc.gov
Morgan, H. (2023, September 27). Suicide myths and facts (B. Schuette & E. Morton, Eds.). Raleigh, NC: Workplace Options (WPO).
U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (Revised 2021). Frequently asked questions about suicide (NIH Pub. No. 21-MH-6389). Retrieved January 11, 2023, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov.
