How to Say It® When You Don’t Know What to Say: Suicide


A life is at stake and you may need to speak to a mental health professional in order to keep the suicidal person safe. If you promise to keep your discussions secret, you may have to break your word. Offer ways to fix their problems, or give advice, or make them feel like they have to justify their suicidal feelings.

If a friend or family member tells you that he or she is thinking about death or suicide, it's important to evaluate the immediate danger the person is in. Moderate — Suicidal thoughts.

Understanding suicide

According to the U. Antidepressants and suicide For some, depression medication causes an increase—rather than a decrease—in depression and suicidal thoughts and feelings. But despite their desire for the pain to stop, most suicidal people are deeply conflicted about ending their own lives. While Nepal has no recorded statistics of causes, experts cite migration, displacement and loss of support as leading to depression and driving some to take their own lives. Please educate yourselves if you know someone with mental illness. Recognizing Depression and Getting Help.

Vague plan that isn't very lethal. Says he or she won't attempt suicide. High — Suicidal thoughts. Specific plan that is highly lethal. Severe — Suicidal thoughts. Says he or she will attempt suicide. If a suicide attempt seems imminent, call a local crisis center, dial , or take the person to an emergency room.

Remove guns, drugs, knives, and other potentially lethal objects from the vicinity but do not, under any circumstances, leave a suicidal person alone.

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If a friend or family member is suicidal, the best way to help is by offering an empathetic, listening ear. Let your loved one know that he or she is not alone and that you care. Don't take responsibility, however, for making your loved one well. You can offer support, but you can't get better for a suicidal person.

How to support someone

The deaths of Ram and Biswas are among a dozen suicides If you, or anyone you know, would like to speak to a trained mental health. Don't be scared to talk to them about how they feel. It's OK to say you're sorry for their loss. Let them know you're there for them if they want to sound off angrily.

He or she has to make a personal commitment to recovery. It takes a lot of courage to help someone who is suicidal. Witnessing a loved one dealing with thoughts about ending his or her own life can stir up many difficult emotions. As you're helping a suicidal person, don't forget to take care of yourself. Find someone that you trust—a friend, family member, clergyman, or counselor—to talk to about your feelings and get support of your own. Do everything in your power to get a suicidal person the help he or she needs.

Call a crisis line for advice and referrals. Encourage the person to see a mental health professional, help locate a treatment facility, or take them to a doctor's appointment. If the doctor prescribes medication, make sure your friend or loved one takes it as directed. Be aware of possible side effects and be sure to notify the physician if the person seems to be getting worse.

Those contemplating suicide often don't believe they can be helped, so you may have to be more proactive at offering assistance. Drop by, call again, invite the person out. Encourage positive lifestyle changes, such as a healthy diet, plenty of sleep, and getting out in the sun or into nature for at least 30 minutes each day. Exercise is also extremely important as it releases endorphins, relieves stress, and promotes emotional well-being. Make a safety plan. Help the person develop a set of steps he or she promises to follow during a suicidal crisis. It should identify any triggers that may lead to a suicidal crisis, such as an anniversary of a loss, alcohol, or stress from relationships.

Also include contact numbers for the person's doctor or therapist, as well as friends and family members who will help in an emergency. Remove potential means of suicide, such as pills, knives, razors, or firearms. If the person is likely to take an overdose, keep medications locked away or give out only as the person needs them. Continue your support over the long haul. Even after the immediate suicidal crisis has passed, stay in touch with the person, periodically checking in or dropping by. Your support is vital to ensure your friend or loved one remains on the recovery track.

According to the U. Department of Health and Human Services, at least 90 percent of all people who die by suicide suffer from one or more mental disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or alcoholism. Depression in particular plays a large role in suicide. The difficulty suicidal people have imagining a solution to their suffering is due in part to the distorted thinking caused by depression. Depression Symptoms and Warning Signs: Recognizing Depression and Getting Help. For some, depression medication causes an increase—rather than a decrease—in depression and suicidal thoughts and feelings.

Because of this risk, the FDA advises that anyone on antidepressants should be watched for increases in suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

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Monitoring is especially important if this is the person's first time on depression medication or if the dose has recently been changed. The risk of suicide is the greatest during the first two months of antidepressant treatment. In addition to the general risk factors for suicide, both teenagers and older adults are at a higher risk of suicide.

Suicide Prevention

Teenage suicide is a serious and growing problem. The teenage years can be emotionally turbulent and stressful. Teenagers face pressures to succeed and fit in. They may struggle with self-esteem issues, self-doubt, and feelings of alienation.

For some, this leads to suicide. Depression is also a major risk factor for teen suicide. Find this story helpful? Share it with someone you care about. Please click here if you are not redirected within a few seconds. You can also browse from over health conditions. Log In Join Us. Continue reading this story I joined The Mighty because I believe storytelling is a powerful tool in raising awareness about mental health and trauma. I'm inspired every day by the brave vulnerability of our community, and it gives me the courage to share my own experiences with trauma and mental health.

If you experience suicidal thoughts or have lost someone to suicide, the following post could be potentially triggering. Sometimes, suicidal thoughts can surprise us by creeping up slowly, seemingly out of nowhere. Share or Copy Link. Yet so many of us feel like we knew him so well.

Supporting a friend after someone dies from suicide

I try to will myself to smile and laugh authentically, but they feel fake more often than not. Instead, guilt consumes any sliver of happiness I can muster. The decorations, singing and warm wishes come from sweet sincerities — yet they feel like absolute [ Read the full transcript: If you experience suicidal thoughts, the following post could be potentially triggering.

Dear Psychiatric Nurse, I came to you terrified, scared out of my mind. I had just been sent from residential treatment to a psychiatric hospital in a nearby city; [ Supporting someone who has attempted suicide can be emotionally draining, stressful and exhausting. It is vital that you look after yourself and get the support you need.

Unhelpful reactions to a suicide attempt

This is not something you need to deal with alone. Ensure you have adequate support systems in place yourself.

Supporting someone: Common feelings and reactions to a suicide attempt

Identify trusted family members or friends that you can talk to, or join a local support group. If you are finding it difficult to deal with the strain of the situation, you may also wish to consider counselling or other professional support for yourself. SuicideLine Victoria provides free professional, anonymous support 24 hours a day seven days a week across Victoria. Each counsellor provides specialist telephone or online counselling to anyone affected by suicide.