Suicide Prevention

Losing someone to suicide is devastating. People ask themselves if they missed warning signs and what they might have done to prevent the death of the person they lost. National Suicide Prevention Month is observed in September. It is an attempt to raise awareness and save lives. This year, National Suicide Week will be observed from September 10-16. At Carolona Dunes Behavioral Health, in Leland, North Carolina, we provide compassionate, intensive treatment for adolescents and seniors who are struggling with suicidal thoughts, and we offer family support as well. 

Recognizing Risk Factors of Suicide

After a person has died by suicide, it is not uncommon for their loved ones to say that they didn’t know the person was suicidal. There are usually warning signs before a person kills themselves, but many people don’t recognize them. Some examples include:

• • Illness – particularly if they are struggling to get help managing the illness
    • Mental disorders like depression, anxiety, and panic disorders
    • Physical health conditions, especially ones that are chronic, painful, or limit the person’s independence

• Exposure to suicide

• • • Prior attempts of their own
    • Family history of suicide
    • Loss of friends, colleagues, or other people they know via suicide
    • Exposure to suicide through the media and online sources

• Signs of emotional distress

• • • Hopelessness – the person might write or verbalize statements that they feel trapped, things will never get better, they should kill themselves, they have no purpose, or people would be better off without them. They might indicate these are just jokes, but even jokes about suicide can be a red flag.
    • Increased irritability or aggression
    • Impulsivity and risky behavior, like increased substance use or careless driving
    • Loneliness or isolation
    • Feeling like they are a burden to their loved ones or professionals if they reach out for support
    • Withdrawing from friends, family, colleagues, or others

• Recent loss

• • • Termination from a job
    • Homelessness
    • End of an important relationship
    • Death of a loved one (especially by suicide)

• Easy access to methods they could use to kill themselves

• Cultural, religious, or personal beliefs that suicide is a noble solution

• Tying up loose ends

• • Saying goodbye like it’s the last time they will see people
  • Giving away cherished possessions
  • Making a will
  • Buying or reviewing a life insurance policy

Have the Conversation

If you recognize some of the risk factors above in someone you know, the next step is to talk to them to determine if they are struggling with suicidal thoughts and ensure they get connected to any help they might need. People sometimes worry that if they ask someone about suicidal thoughts, they will give the person the idea to kill themselves. But that’s not true: talking to people is the best way to ensure they don’t try to take their lives. Ask questions that are sensitive but direct:

• How are you coping with the difficult things you’ve been experiencing?
• Do you ever feel like giving up?
• Are you thinking about hurting yourself?
• Are you thinking about killing yourself?
• Do you have a plan for how or when you might try to end your life?
• Do you have access to what you would need to act on that plan?

Next Steps

Talking to the person should give you a better sense of the situation. If you are concerned that the person is at risk for making an attempt on their life, take action to help them stay safe:

• Do not leave them alone.
• Tell them that you do not want them to die and that you want to help them work through the things that are making them consider ending their life.
• Develop a plan with them for how to limit their access to whatever they might use to kill themselves, especially firearms, which are particularly lethal. This might involve finding someone to hold onto their guns, contacting their pharmacy to limit how many pills they can get at once, removing sharp objects, etc.
• Help them reach out to their mental health providers. If they don’t have professional mental health support or cannot reach anyone, call or text the National Suicide Crisis Lifeline with them. This will connect them with a trained crisis counselor who can assist them in safety planning and refer them to long-term support.
• Try to help them talk to other friends and family members about how they are feeling, so they have more support.
• If they will not cooperate with safety planning or you don’t believe they can remain safe at home, call 911 or drive them to the nearest emergency room.

Following Up

In the days, weeks and months after you help someone who is struggling with suicidal thoughts, it is important to revisit the topic and make sure they are doing better. Suicidal thoughts are something that can come back later, and the underlying factors that led to a person considering taking their own life may take some time to resolve. Also, don’t assume that just because the person is acting happier that they aren’t suicidal anymore. Many people act relieved and happy when they have finalized a plan to kill themselves and an attempt is imminent, so it is critically important to continue asking direct questions.

Suicide is a difficult and scary thing to think about, whether you’re the person who is contemplating ending your life or you’re worried about someone you know. At Carolina Dunes Behavioral Health, located near Wilmington, North Carolina, we provide resources to our patients and their loved ones to help them recover from painful circumstances that may have led them to considering death. We offer trauma-informed, evidence-based services with compassion and respect.