Suicide Prevention Information

We have covered the topic of suicide prevention regularly in our magazine and in this blog because it is a huge problem in our society and as a Counselor working closely with students you can see the signs when a student is depressed and possibly thinking about suicide. Recognizing and acting on those signs can make all the difference in the world.

Choice Mutual recently published a comprehensive post on the subject. On average, 112 Americans die by suicide each day. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15-24 year olds and more than 9.4 million adults in the United States had serious thoughts of suicide within the past 12 months.

Here are some of the warning signs of suicide they outlined:

Talking about wanting to die or to kill oneself
Looking for a way to kill oneself
Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
Talking about being a burden to others
Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly
Sleeping too little or too much
Withdrawing or feeling isolated
Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
Displaying extreme mood swings

Here are some ways you can support students who may be exhibiting some of the above signs:

Warning Signs of Suicide Risk
Most people who are feeling depressed or desperate enough to consider suicide give clues to how they’re feeling. You can be the first step towards help for someone you care about by learning to recognize these clues to suicide risk.

Verbal Signs

“I want to kill myself.”

“I don’t want to be here anymore.”

“No one understands me.”

“I can’t take it anymore.”

“Things will never get better.”

“I’m tired of being a burden to my friends and family.”

“No one would miss me if I were gone.”

Physical Changes

Losing or gaining weight quickly
Suddenly not caring about appearances or cleanliness
Unexplained cuts, scrapes or bruises
Appearing tired all the time

Acting Differently

Changes in mood: more withdrawn, anxious or sad, or sudden mood lift after a down period
Changes in eating or sleeping habits
Suddenly taking more risks: not taking prescribed medication, drunk driving, ignoring physical limitations, having unprotected sex, using more drugs or alcohol
Loss of concentration.
Withdrawing from friends and family.
Losing interest in things that used to be enjoyed.
Not planning for the future
Hurting oneself on purpose
Thinking and talking about death a lot
Unexplained good-byes or unusual personal expressions that have a sense of closure

Situations