7 Common Suicide Warning Signs
7 Common Suicide Warning Signs
Guest Post by Melissa Howard, StopSuicide.info
Have you recently noticed someone close to you who is struggling with depression and showing concerning signs? They may be considering suicide, but it’s not too late to intervene. With the right treatment, your loved one can improve their mental health. So, what are the suicide warning signs to look out for? We’ve listed six common warning signs below that your loved one may exhibit before they decide to end their life.
Reckless Behavior
Potentially reckless behavior, such as dangerous driving, engaging in unsafe promiscuous sex, and sudden addiction to drugs or alcohol. All of this behavior is self-harming, but someone considering suicide doesn’t think about the consequences of their actions because they’re not planning their future and they no longer value their life.
Mood Changes
Is a friend or family member suddenly withdrawing from activities they once loved? Are they getting irritable or angry over little things? They may be dealing with some emotions, including depression. This puts them at a higher risk of committing suicide if they feel like they’re alone. Confront them and let them know you’re there for them, and get them help to control their emotions.
Stressful Life Events
When someone is surrounded by certain environmental factors that cause added stress on their already busy life, it can be hectic and cause them to struggle with staying positive. These environmental factors can include access to lethal firearms or drugs, prolonged harassment or bullying, unemployment, the death of a loved one, relationship troubles or even exposure to another person’s suicide.
Talking about Suicide
This may be the most obvious warning sign, but if someone close to you starts becoming fascinated with suicide or often brings it up, you should be concerned. Especially if they talk about being a burden to others, experiencing unbearable pain, having no reason to live or feeling trapped.
Mental Health Problems
Mental disorders are common, but sometimes when someone is struggling with schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or borderline personality disorder, it can increase their chances of committing suicide. This is because they may not feel in control of their actions, which can cause a downward spiral. When a mental disorder affects the way someone thinks or feels, suicidal thoughts can sneak in and take over.
Drug Addiction
When someone is struggling with addiction to drugs or alcohol, they may not feel in control of their life. Mental health issues such as anxiety, trauma and depression often co-occur with drug and alcohol addiction. For this reason, drug abusers are often more at risk for committing suicide. If enrolled in a treatment program, drug addicts stand a chance of fully recovering and improving their mental health.
Historical Factors
Someone who has previously attempted suicide or has a family history of suicide is at a higher risk of trying to commit suicide. Other historical factors include childhood abuse, neglect from family members or any trauma that they experienced growing up. With this kind of history, someone is more prone to try to commit suicide, and it’s a warning sign to watch out for, especially if they are struggling with depression.
If someone close to you is struggling with suicidal thoughts and feeling isolated and withdrawn, there’s still hope. Suicide is preventable if you catch the warning signs in time. Remember to keep a lookout for these signs, and if you see any of them, confront your loved one and get them the help they need to get better.
Melissa Howard is Head of Prevention Outreach at her website StopSuicide.info in which she writes articles about handling suicidal thoughts and recovering from suicidal attempts. She can be reached at melissa@stopsuicide.info.
Photo: Unsplash
