BE AWARE OF THE WARNING SIGNS
Are you or someone you love at risk of suicide? Get the facts and take appropriate action.
Get help immediately should you witness, hear, or see anyone exhibiting any one or more of the following:
Someone threatening to hurt or kill him/herself, or talking about wanting to hurt or kill him/herself.
Someone looking for ways to kill him/herself by seeking access to firearms, available pills, or other means.
Someone talking or writing about death, dying or suicide, when these actions are out of the ordinary for the person.
Possible warning signs:
Hopelessness
Rage, uncontrolled anger, seeking revenge
Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities, seemingly without thinking
Feeling trapped – like there’s no way out
Increase alcohol or drug use
Withdrawing from friends, family and society
Anxiety, agitation, unable to sleep or sleeping all the time
Dramatic mood changes
No reason for living; no sense of purpose in life
BE AWARE OF THE FACTS
Suicide is preventable. Most suicidal individuals desperately want to live; they are just unable to see alternatives to their problems.
Most suicidal individuals give definite warnings of their suicidal intentions, but others are either unaware of the significance of these warnings or do not know how to respond to them.
Talking about suicide does not cause someone to be suicidal.
Approximately 42,700 Americans kill themselves every year. The number of suicide attempts is much greater and often results in serious injury.
Suicide is a significant public health problem in Ohio. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is a leading cause of death for Ohioans 10-64 years of age and the second leading cause of death for young Ohioans 15-34 years of age.
Youth (15-24) suicide rates increased more than 200% from the 1950’s to the late 1970’s. Following the late 1970’s, the rates for youth suicide have remained stable.
The suicide rate is higher among the elderly (over 65) than any other age group.
3.5 times as many men kill themselves as compared to women, yet three times as many women attempt suicide as compared to men.
Suicide occurs across all age, economic, social, and ethnic boundaries.
Firearms are currently the most utilized method of suicide by essentially all groups (male, female, young, old, white, non-white).
Surviving family members not only suffer the trauma of losing a loved one to suicide, and may themselves be at higher risk for suicide and emotional problems.
WAYS TO BE HELPFUL TO SOMEONE WHO IS THREATENING SUICIDE
Be aware. Learn the warning signs.
Get involved. Become available. Show interest and support.
Ask if he/she is thinking about suicide.
Be direct. Talk openly and freely about suicide.
Be willing to listen. Allow for expression of feelings. Accept the Feelings.
Be non-judgmental. Don’t debate whether suicide is right or wrong, or feelings are good or bad. Don’t lecture on the value of life.
Don’t dare him/her to do it.
Don’t give advice by making decisions for someone else to tell them to behave differently.
Don’t ask ‘why’. This encourages defensiveness.
Offer empathy, not sympathy.
Don’t act shocked. This creates distance.
Don’t be sworn to secrecy. Seek support.
Offer hope that alternatives are available, do not offer glib reassurance; it only proves you don’t understand.
Take action! Remove means! Get help from individuals or agencies specializing in crisis intervention and suicide prevention.
If this is an emergency...
Your life is extremely valuable, and people care about you. If you, or someone you know, is in immediate danger of harming him or herself, please call 911 immediately. Stay on the phone with the operator and wait for help to arrive. Otherwise, if you have suicidal thoughts or feelings of complete hopelessness, please contact us or another mental health professional as soon as possible. You can also call the suicide hotline at1-800-SUICIDE, 24 hours per day.