Suicide is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Research shows that preventing suicide requires efforts at the individual, community and systems levels.
Educating individuals at risk of suicide about warning signs and resources for help.
Reducing access to lethal means like firearms and medications by educating families, providing safety locks, changing packaging and installing barriers.
Know the Warning Signs
The vast majority of people who take their lives exhibit one or more warning signs, which are behaviors and actions that are a response to intense emotional pain. These can include talking about suicide, threatening to kill or harm themselves, looking for access to lethal items like guns or drugs, or showing a sudden interest in end-of-life affairs such as making a will or discussing funeral arrangements.
A history of previous suicide attempts, mental health conditions (such as depression or bipolar disorder), and alcohol or drug abuse can increase the risk of suicide. Other risk factors include stressors like major life events, legal or financial difficulties, relationship troubles, disgrace or shame, bullying, discrimination and chronic illness.
It’s not always easy to recognize the warning signs, but it is important not to ignore them. If you notice a change in someone’s behavior, talk to them about it and make sure they get the help they need.
Be Proactive
Many suicide prevention strategies focus on reducing access to lethal means of self-harm, including teaching coping skills, expanding options for temporary assistance and connecting people in crisis to mental and physical health care. Other strategies focus on promoting connectedness and a sense of community, as well as building resiliency in those at risk.
Proactive people look for creative solutions and alternatives when they encounter unfortunate circumstances. They take responsibility for what they can control, rather than finding fault with external factors or blame others. They make plans for unforeseen challenges, anticipate their long-term consequences and work to overcome them.
If you suspect that a friend is struggling, encourage them to call a telephone support service, see their GP or go to the hospital. Ask them if they’re having suicidal thoughts and offer to talk with them. Remember that suicide is not a secret. Do not agree to keep it a secret, as this will increase their feelings of shame and hopelessness.
Reach Out
Suicide prevention initiatives aim to break down barriers that prevent people from seeking help, like the lack of information or misperceptions about how effective treatment is. Outreach campaigns can help people identify the signs that they need help and connect them with available resources. Social connectedness — the feeling of belonging and being cared for by others — can also reduce risk by encouraging help-seeking behaviors.
Helping someone understand their feelings, improve coping skills and increase resiliency can also decrease suicide risk. For example, psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy, can help people recognize ineffective patterns of thinking and actions and build hope.
People who are at high risk may need to access a range of services, including hotlines and mobile crisis teams, walk-in crisis clinics, hospital-based psychiatric emergency services and peer-support programs. Crisis services directly address suicide risk by providing evaluation and stabilization for those in need. Community-based prevention efforts include reducing access to lethal means, such as firearms or pills, and fostering a culture of caring through outreach campaigns.
Keep Yourself Safe
Suicide is a deadly, but preventable, consequence of mental disorders like depression. By knowing the warning signs, recognizing them in ourselves and others, and taking action, we can help people in emotional pain.
One way to reduce suicide is to limit access to lethal means, such as by educating families of those at risk about safely storing medications and guns, installing barriers on bridges, or changing medication packaging. Another way is to help people improve their mental wellness and resiliency through psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or dialectical behavior therapy, which can help them recognize ineffective patterns of thinking and behavior, and learn new ways to cope with life challenges.
Social programs that foster a sense of belonging and support within communities, particularly for vulnerable populations, have also been shown to be protective factors against suicide. Finally, research has shown that individualized safety planning can reduce suicide risk by helping at-risk individuals work with their health care providers to identify resources and coping strategies.