Suicide Awareness

Suicide:

Suicide is the act of taking your own life. It can be a response to stressful moments in life. Learning the signs of suicide is a step to help preventing it. You could save a life, whether it’s someone else’s or even your own.  

Causes:

Suicides and suicidal thoughts can be caused by many things. Most of the time, they are caused from facing an adversity that feels hopeless and like you are stuck. Without hope, some people may make the mistake of feeling that suicide is the only way out.  

Suicide can also be caused by genetic history. People who have suicidal thoughts or behavior are more likely to commit suicide if they have a link to it.  

Symptoms:

There are many signs someone can show if they are suicidal. Not everyone will have all these symptoms, they can vary from person to person. 

• Talking About Suicide. People who are suicidal could say or think things like “I wish I was dead”, or “I wish I wasn’t born” 
• Trying to take your own life, like buying a gun or pills 
• Wanting to be alone and stopping social contact 
• Having mood swings 
• Being preoccupied with death, dying, or violence 
• Feeling like you are trapped or that you are in a hopeless situation 
• Use or increasing use of alcohol or drugs 
• Changing of their regular routine 
• Doing self-destructive things, like reckless driving or drugs 
• Saying goodbye like they won’t be seen ever again 
• Getting affairs in order and giving away belongings 

Seeking Help:

If you are having suicidal thoughts, you can always reach out for help. Talk to a loved one, doctor, mental health specialist, or a friend. Get help, because suicidal thoughts don’t go away on their own. 

Taking to a Suicidal Person:

If you think someone is suicidal and don’t know what to do, acting is always the best choice. You may fear that it can make the situation worse, but in the long run it’s a very wise decision. 

Asking Questions:

Asking Questions is a good way to get an idea on a person’s situation. They are an opportunity to help someone talk about their feelings instead of taking it out on themself. Be sensitive and ask direct questions. 

• Are you thinking of ending your life? 
• How are you coping in your current life situation? 
• How are you doing with what’s been going on in your life? 
• Are you thinking about hurting yourself? 
• Have you thought about hurting yourself or suicide? 
• Do you have access to weapons that could be used to harm yourself?

Help:

Helping a suicidal person can be done in different ways. Make sure you stay positive and show hope and support towards that person. Don’t leave that person alone if they need immediate help. You can take them or help them get in contact with a doctor or mental health specialist.  

Educate: 

Educating yourself and others can help people learn how to deal with people who experience suicidal thoughts and behavior. Learn about warning signs of suicide and suicidal thoughts and how to communicate with suicidal people. Open-mindedness will help you hear others and support them when they need help. 

Support:

Supporting people who are suicidal can help them reach out for help. When people support others positively it can help suicidal people find hope and prevent suicidal thoughts from occurring. 

Kindness:

One of the best ways to prevent suicide is to build trust and community with people through kindness. You can create relationships with them and keep them hopeful for the future. It can be hard to be kind all the time, but it makes a huge difference in your life and the lives of others.  

Reminder:

Always be kind because you never know what someone is going through. Be open-minded to help you understand other people.