Whether a parent, friend, co-worker,
or professional, it is important for helpers to understand the
associated factors and warnings signs linked with a potential
for suicide. Use this information as a guide. The
list is not exhaustive, new information on suicide prevention
is published frequently. Contact a mental health clinician with
any specific concerns.
Associated
Factors
Emotional
and behavioral indicators associated with suicide
(References 2-5):
Overwhelming
emotional pain that is beyond what the person
can endure given their coping capacity or recent loss of
coping resources
Hopelessness
that their situation can improve or that the future
holds any promise of relief from pain
Powerlessness
over their surroundings or their situation including
a stripping away of resources they may have built over time
to blunt emotional pain
Excessive
feelings of guilt, shame, worthlessness, negative
thinking or self-criticism
Declining
performance on the job, at school or in personal
or family life
Social
isolation or a marked change in friends, often
including people whose values are inconsistent with those
of the person or their family
Diminished
interest in activities formerly found pleasurable
including sex, hobbies, and friendships
Neglect
of personal welfare including declining physical
appearance and disregard for good dietary, hygienic or medical
wellness
Significant
weight gain or weight loss
Change
in sleep habits including either insomnia or constant
weariness with the desire to sleep much more than usual
Self-medicating
their mood with excessive alcohol or drug use
Diagnosis
of a mental health disorder including Depression,
Anxiety, Bipolar, and Borderline Personality
Previous
suicide attempt
History
of abuse including physical, sexual, and psychological
Personal
or environmental stressors associated with
suicide (Reference 2-5):
Loss
of a loved one through death, suicide, or terminal
illness
Loss
of stability in a relationship including marital
strife, separation or divorce
Loss
of job, chronic unemployment, financial instability
Loss
of status or self-esteem
Conflict
about sexual identity
Loss
of safety, security, stability or home
Loss
of freedom through a brush with the law or threat
of incarceration
Loss
of health through diagnosis of life-threatening
or perceived life-threatening illness
Warning
Signs
A
person may be at high risk for self-harm when they show these
suicidal warning signs (References
2-5):
Thinking,
writing or drawing about death or suicide
Expressing
suicidal wishes, both blatant and vague as in,
“I just didn't want to get up this morning” or “I'm going
away for awhile” or “people would be better off without
me” or “what would you do if I died?”
Inflicting
injury to self such as cuts, burns, excessive
tattooing or piercing
Engaging
in reckless or illegal behaviors that suggest
a disregard for personal safety or well being
Developing
a suicide plan including acquiring the means and
selecting the location and time
Giving
away beloved possessions and/or writing a will
Saying
goodbye to others by phone, in person or through
a note
Attempting
suicide, whether seemingly serious or not
A
person can exhibit one or more than one of the previously stated
“signs” or factors and be thinking about taking their life by
suicide. It is not the number of factors impacting an
individual, but how that individual interprets their life situation
and their ability to control it.
Electronic, print, and multimedia
resources are provided to help you to find additional authoritative
information on Associated factors with suicide and suicidal
behavior. These resources are available from such national
organizations as The National Institute of Mental Health as
well as professional organizations, not-for-profit organizations,
and educational institutions.
Internet
American
Psychological Association (APA)
The
APA is a U.S. professional organization for psychologists
and other mental health professionals.
This
full text article entitled: “Eight Factors Found Critical
in Assessing Suicide” is an online article free for reading
at the Monitor on Psychology, 31(2), 2000.
The Monitor on Psychology
is available at the following Web address:
Crisis
Support Services (CSS) of Alameda County: Berkeley, California
CSS
is a community resource in northern California that has offered
volunteer services for more than thirty years. CSS operates
a 24-hour telephone service, currently responding to more
than 50,000 calls each year.
CSS provides information
about the warning signs of suicide available at the following
Web address:
The
NMHA is the country's oldest and largest nonprofit organization
addressing all aspects of mental health and mental illness
and is dedicated to educating the public about mental illness.
The following NMHA Web
page provides general information about suicide:
