Notes on Suicide

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After an attempt: A guide for taking care of your family member after treatment in the emergency department. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. https://sprc.org/online-library/after-an-attempt-a-guide-for-taking-care-of-your-family-member-after-treatment-in-the-emergency-department/. Accessed April 14, 2023. If a friend or loved one is thinking about suicide, professional help is needed — even if suicide is not a danger right away. Here's what you can do: Suicide statistics. (n.d.). American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Retrieved from https://afsp.org/about-suicide/suicide-statistics Countless people, at some time in their life, have had passing thoughts of suicide, and most people feel hopeless or worthless at least occasionally. But since most people do not attempt suicide, it can be difficult to know when those thoughts are indicative of real risk or when they’re normal moments of very low mood that will pass.

Talk therapy, also known as psychotherapy, is one possible treatment method for lowering your risk of attempting suicide. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of talk therapy that’s often used for people who are having thoughts of suicide.

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741. The Crisis Text Line is a free text messaging resource offering 24/7 support to anyone in crisis. If talk therapy isn’t enough to successfully lower risk, medication may be prescribed to ease symptoms, such as depression and anxiety. Treating these symptoms can help reduce or eliminate suicidal thoughts. Know that people contemplating suicide often have mental health issues. Your loved one might say things that don’t make sense or that you dislike. Avoid judging or labeling them. Simple actions can help support someone who is suicidal or recovering from an attempt to take their life.

It can feel difficult to start these conversations. Samaritans have tips on how to be a good listener. Mind also has information on supporting someone who feels suicidal. When a person shares their feelings of hopelessness or thoughts of suicide, try the following strategies: Suicide is preventable, and bystanders can help. If you need help for yourself or someone you love, you can call the following phone numbers for help: Work with your healthcare provider or therapist to learn about the possible triggers for your suicidal feelings. This will help you recognize the signs of danger early on and decide what steps to take ahead of time. previous suicide attempts, or previous self-harm. Many people who self-harm don’t want to die. However, research shows that people who self-harm are at higher risk of attempting or dying by suicideTalk to someone now. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. https://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/gethelp/someone.aspx. Accessed April 14, 2023. You’ll want to go down the If Only path, but don’t. That will only result in endless loops of anguish and no real clarity. Know that it is not your fault. Reidenberg trains journalists who report on suicide, and he helped develop a list of best practices for journalists reporting on suicide. He says most journalists do not understand their role in contagion, yet simple changes in the way journalists talk about suicide can make a big difference. A 2007 study of Austrian guidelines for reporting on suicide found use of the guidelines lowered the nation’s suicide rate by 80% in just six months. Guidelines for Reporting on Suicide Avoiding alcohol and drugs. Staying away from alcohol and drugs is critical, as these substances can lower inhibitions and may increase the risk for suicide. Don’t agree to keep someone’s thoughts of suicide secret, but don’t use a person’s feelings to humiliate them. Share their feelings with someone who is equipped to help. That person might be a parent, sibling, or loved one. It could also be a mental health expert. The right person varies. For example, a teacher worried about a suicidal teenager with abusive parents should consider talking to someone other than the teen’s parents.