*Trigger warning: Please note that this blog is about suicide which includes statics and resources for suicide. Please care for yourself accordingly.
49,449 deaths by suicide in 2021, that’s a 2.6% increase from the year before. Someone you know, or maybe even you, has felt the impact of a loss of a person who has died by suicide. With suicide being such a heavy and scary topic, we want to avoid it. This is exactly why we need to talk about it because talking about it could potentially save a life.
Risk Factors
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Link
- Having a mental health disorder
- Traumatic brain injury
- Serious physical health conditions
- Access to lethal means including firearms and drugs
- Prolonged stress, such as harassment, bullying, relationship problems, or unemployment
- Stressful life events, like rejection, divorce, financial crisis, other life transitions or loss
- Exposure to another person’s suicide or to graphic or sensationalized accounts of suicide
- Previous suicide attempts
- Family history of suicide
- Childhood abuse, neglect or trauma
Warning signs someone is thinking about suicide
- Giving away their possessions
- Talking about killing themselves, losing hope, having no reason to live, feeling like a burden to others and other similar statements
- Withdrawing from activities/people
- Saying goodbye to people they love
*For a full list, click the link above
What do you do when someone you know is suicidal?
Talk to them. Listen. Ask directly, “Are you thinking about suicide?” Just say that one sentence and sit with them. Give them time to answer. Your brain is going to tell you to run away from the topic because what if they say yes? But it’s imperative that you don’t. You can state the concerns you see and express your concern about them. Most importantly, you want them to answer the question so you clearly know if they are feeling suicidal or not.
Asking if someone is feeling suicidal does not plant the seed for them to become suicidal. So ask the question.
What if they say yes?
You listen and help them find resources (therapist, hotline, hospital). If they say yes and find yourself in freeze mode, call the suicide hotline or 988. You don’t have to be the only person to help them.
Ask if they have a plan for how they might complete suicide. If possible, take their means (guns, drugs, medications, knives, etc.).
Stay with them until professional help is sought.
Other things to know
If you know someone who has completed suicide, it puts you and everyone at greater risk for suicide. So if your brother’s friends complete suicide, check in on your brother and don’t let them grieve alone. Many loved ones of the deceased have survivals guilt which can lead to feelings of suicide.
One question could be a life-saving question, so why not ask it?
Now take a deep breath because that was heavy—Bookmark this blog and the link to have it as a resource. Now do some self care.
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