Suicide Warning Signs

Everyone has hard times. That's part of life. And when someone is having a particularly hard time, it usually shows, if you really look. That's because it's normal to have feelings, thoughts, and changes in our behaviors when we encounter difficult situations. Learn to recognize these warning signs, for the safety of your friends and for yourself.

If someone you know appears to be at risk of suicide:

1. Ask the question - are you thinking about suicide?
   
2. Show your concern - talk and listen.
   
3. Help the person get in contact with someone trained in suicide prevention. If you or the person you are concerned about are a teen, please get an adult in your life to help.

   Some Signs That Point To Suicide Risk:

   • no interest in the future
   • strong interest in death - in readings, conversations, writing, art
   • giving away important possessions
   • hinting about suicide
   • talking directly about suicide
   • talking about a plan for suicide, especially if s/he has access to a gun

   A Person May Be Especially Likely To Attempt Suicide If His/Her Past Includes:

   • previous suicide attempts
   • a suicide death in the family
   • the suicide of a friend, or a public figure that s/he identifies with

   These Traits Are Also Associated With A Higher Risk Of Feeling Suicidal:

   • having severe depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety along with substance abuse
   • having an active thought disorder type of mental illness
   • being highly impulsive
   • being extremely perfectionistic

   Other Indicators

   Some of the Behaviors: can't concentrate loses interest in school, hobbies no energy changes in grades or work performance changes in appearance changes in types of friends physical complaints frequent accidents changes in appetites alcohol or other drug abuse changes in sleeping withdrawing getting into fights taking more risks intentionally harming self extreme mood swings	Some of the Situations: low grades or bad work review relationship violence relationship breakup not making a team rejected by peers feeling different unplanned pregnancy death - family or friend serious illness - family or friend serious illness - self financial problems in the family death of a pet substance abuse in the family substance abuse -self physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
   Some of the Feelings: depressed hopeless lonely worthless misunderstood angry ashamed embarrassed alienated powerless trapped guilty sad alone confused helpless disappointed discouraged overwhelmed frustrated pressured	Some of the Thoughts: I don't fit in. It's my fault. I do everything wrong. I'm no good. No one cares. No one understands. Why me? This will never end. I am a burden.