Suicide

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents in the United States. One in ten high school students indicate that they have attempted suicide.

Suicide is the act of intentionally ending one’s life. A suicide attempt is an act in which an individual tries to die by suicide but survives. Suicidal ideation refers to thoughts or ideas of suicide and is used to describe a range of contemplations, wishes, and preoccupations with death and suicide.

Warning Signs:

  • Feeling like a burden
  • Being isolated
  • Feeling trapped or desperate
  • Increased anger or rage
  • Behaving recklessly
  • Loss of interest in things they care about
  • Expressing hopelessness
  • Sleeping too little or too much
  • Talking, writing, drawing, or posting about death
  • Giving away possessions

Steps to Help Someone At-Risk:

Ask – “Are you having thoughts of suicide?” Studies show that asking at-risk individuals if they are suicidal does NOT increase suicides or suicidal thoughts. In fact, students suggest that acknowledging and talking about suicide may reduce, rather than increase, their suicidal ideation.

Keep them safe – do not leave them alone, remove harmful objects.

Be there – listen non- judgmentally.

Help them connect with professional support.

Follow up.

See more at #BeThe1To (https://www.bethe1to.com/bethe1to-steps-evidence/)

Protective factors:

  • Effective coping and problem-solving skills
  • Strong social and family connections
  • Access to quality mental health care
  • Support from religious or social communities
  • Lack of access to means to self-harm
  • Strong sense of personal and cultural identity

Language Matters

Do:

  • Be direct
  • Be hopeful
  • Encourage people to seek help
  • Use words or descriptors like: “died/death by suicide”; “fatal suicidal behavior”; “non-fatal suicide attempt”

Avoid:

  • Reinforcing stereotypes, prejudice or discrimination against people with mental illness and suicidal ideation
  • Using language that refers to or defines people by their diagnosis (e.g., “he’s bipolar”; “she’s schizophrenic”)
  • Saying: “committed suicide”; “successful or completed suicide”; “failed or unsuccessful suicide”

Please go to our Resources section for a list of national and state-specific suicide and crisis resources.

 

References:

 

 

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Email: moodcheck@brown.edu   |   Phone Number: 401-863-5123

Hassenfeld Child Health Innovation Institute   |   Brown University School of Public Health