What You Need to Know About Suicide

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Image Credit: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Media Resources
   
As some of you may or may not know, September is Suicide Awareness Prevention Month. Most of you probably know someone or know of someone who has attempted or completed suicide. In 2017, an estimated 1,400,000 people attempted suicide according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

As a counselor, that number is all too real. I want to share with you all warning signs, what to do, and what not to do with someone with suicidal ideation. The definition of suicidal ideation is a person who has thoughts, intentions, a plan, and/or the means to commit suicide.

What you need to know:
  • Asking about suicide does not increase a person’s chances of committing suicide. It actually could help save his/her life. 
  • Suicidal ideation can affect anyone regardless of his or her background. 
  • Typically, people do not commit suicide out of the blue. Usually there are warning signs before someone commits suicide, so it is good to be aware of what those signs are.
  • Self-harm is not always a sign of suicidal ideation. This could be a coping habit so check in further and ask about suicidal ideation specifically if this is the case. 
  • Everyone can help in trying to prevent suicide. This isn’t only a job for mental health professionals. One simple, caring gesture can absolutely save a life.
Warnings signs for suicidal ideation include but are not limited to:
  • Giving possessions away
  • Becoming withdrawn
  • Performance drop in school or work
  • Someone saying people would be better off without him/her
  • Someone saying that his/her life has no purpose
  • Someone saying he/she would be better off dead
  • Financial difficulties
  • History of abuse
  • Recent breakup
  • Loss
Each person is different, and these things do not define suicidal ideation nor is this an exhaustive list.

What not to do:

It is important to realize that you are not responsible for changing their mind about suicide but you are there to offer your help. Here are some ways that are not helpful for those with possible suicidal ideation:
  • Telling him/her why they should stay alive
  • Denying his/her feelings
  • Telling him/her “I know how you feel”
  • Panicking or judging him/her for their experience
  • Trying to fix the person’s problems immediately
What to do to help:

Asking clearly and directly is the best way to give care to a person with suicidal ideation. Asking can be scary, but it is the best way to show someone how much you care about them. Here are some ideas for how to ask and give help:
  • Have things been so difficult for you that you are thinking about suicide?
  • I am concerned about how you have been acting, how are you doing?
  • When people talk this way, sometimes it means they are thinking about harming themselves. Are you thinking about doing this?
This is not an easy issue in our community; however, it is an important one. Showing people you care, being compassionate, and taking the time to listen can truly save lives.


If this is an emergency and you are experiencing suicidal ideation, call one of these numbers.

National hotline: 1 800-273-8255
TN hotline: 1 855-274-7471
For more information on this important issue, I encourage you to download my wonderful sources: Stay Alive, My3, and A Friend Asks apps on the App store. 


Jenna Hazlewood-M.MFT, BA, 
is a licensed counselor 
at Branches Counseling Center
in Mt. Juliet, TN.

She can be reached by email at:






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