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12 signs that you or someone you love might be at risk of suicide
Recognizing the warning signs
More than half of those who died by suicide between 1999 and 2016 did not have a known diagnosed mental health condition, according to a June 7, 2018 CDC report. That means that any warning signs could be subtle at best.
But at the same time, seven out of ten people who survive suicide attempts ultimately never try to kill themselves again, the Harvard School of Public Health reports. This suggests both that suicide is not the answer and that prevention efforts pay off in spades.
With that in mind, here are 12 suicide warning signs to watch for in your friends, your loved ones — and yourself.
1. Feeling like a burden
"When people are not able to perform in a role, or are unable to fulfill a purpose, it’s not just that they feel their life is of no value. They feel that they are a burden to others," Sane.org.uk reports.
2. Being isolated
"The subjective feeling of loneliness increases risk of death by 26 percent," Time Magazine reports.
3. Increased anxiety
"Among individuals reporting a lifetime history of suicide attempt, over 70 percent had an anxiety disorder," the National Institutes of Health reports.
4. Feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
"Often suicidal people are experiencing intolerable emotional pain, which they believe to be unrelenting," according to The Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of British Columbia. "They often feel hopeless and trapped. By helping them to recognize and explore alternatives to dying, you are planting the seeds of hope that things can improve."
5. Increased substance use
"Research has shown that the strongest predictor (link is external) of suicide is alcoholism, not a psychiatric diagnosis," Psychology Today reports.
6. Looking for a way to access lethal means
"Many suicide attempts take place during a short-term crisis, so it is important to consider a person's access to lethal means during these periods of increased risk," the Suicide Prevention Resource Center reports. For example, loved ones can limit a person's access to medications and attempt to store firearms with law enforcement.
7. Increased anger or rage
"An expression of profound distress and rage ... often emphasises the loss of control that the patient is experiencing at that point," Joy Hibbins writes on Huffpost.co.uk. "This fury and loss of control should be of great concern to any clinician who is focusing on trying to ensure that the patient does not harm themself. An intense angry outburst can greatly increase the risk of an imminent suicide attempt."
8. Extreme mood swings
"Long-lasting sadness and mood swings can be symptoms of depression, a major risk factor for suicide," according to ClevelandClinic.org.
9. Expressing hopelessness
"There always is hope. But you may not feel that hope until you receive effective treatment for any disorder that you might have," writes Kevin Caruso for Suicide.org.
10. Sleeping too little or too much
"Teenagers who thought about or attempted suicide were more likely to have suffered sleep disorders in earlier years," researchers suggested in one Reuters report.
11. Talking or posting about wanting to die
Many social media sites, such as Facebook, include pages where you can report suicidal content to get help.
12. Making plans for suicide
This could include giving away significant possessions, making a will, writing a suicide note or clearing up loose ends, The Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of British Columbia reports.
Get help
If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, help is less than a moment away. Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text 741741 or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org for free, confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
