Warning Signs
It is common in everybody's life, for one to have feelings of sadness, depression, stress, or anger— especially when having to deal with the pressures of work, school, friends and family. But unfortunately, some people may feel hopelessness or sadness that seems to never go away, along with thoughts of suicide.
You may have heard that the people who actually talk about suicide will now actually go through with it. That is in fact not true. People who talk about suicide may be likely to attempt it.
Immediate warning signs that someone may be thinking of suicide include:
talking about suicide or death in general
looking online for ways to kill oneself or buying items to use in a suicide attempt
talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
engaging in self-destructive behavior which includes overly drinking, getting involved with drugs, and consistently driving well above the speed limit
visiting or calling people to say goodbye
giving away possessions
exhibiting massive mood changes
withdrawing from loved ones and society
sleeping constantly or not being able to sleep
What Can I Do?
If you have a friend who's talking about suicide or showing other warning signs, don't wait to see if they start to feel better. Talk about it. Take the question to them directly and ask them if they are having any thoughts of suicide. Â
Having someone care enough to ask these questions can help save your friend's life.Â
In many cases, both teens and adults are reluctant to ask friends if they have been thinking about suicide or hurting themselves. Â
Asking someone if they're having thoughts about suicide can be hard. It can help to let your friend know why you're asking. For instance, you might say, "I've noticed that you've been talking a lot about wanting to be dead. Have you been having thoughts about trying to kill yourself?" Be prepared for their answer and be ready to talk to them. The best thing to do is to never give up on them. If your friend wants to end the conversation, do not allow him to do so. Make sure you understand the root of the issue and just be there for him or her.Â
If you believe that your friend is thinking about killing himself on that day, contact the authorities and inform them of the situation.
