Reading Room

Understanding and Helping
a Suicidal Person

WARNING SIGNS POSSIBLY LEADING TO SUICIDE (cont.)

C. Suicidal Behavior

• Previous suicide attempts, "mini-attempts".
• Explicit statements of suicidal ideation or feelings.
• Development of suicidal plan, acquiring the means, "rehearsal" behavior, setting a time for the attempt.
• Self-inflicted injuries, such as cuts, burns, or head banging.
• Reckless behavior. (Besides suicide, other leading causes of death among young people in New York City are homicide, accidents, drug overdose, and AIDS.) Unexplained accidents among children and the elderly.
• Making out a will or giving away favorite possessions.
• Inappropriately saying goodbye.
• Verbal behavior that is ambiguous or indirect: "I'm going away on a real long trip.", "You won't have to worry about me anymore.", "I want to go to sleep and never wake up.", "I'm so depressed, I just can't go on.", "Does God punish suicides?", "Voices are telling me to do bad things.", requests for euthanasia information, inappropriate joking, stories or essays on morbid themes.

A WARNING ABOUT WARNING SIGNS

The majority of the population, at any one time, does not have many of the warning signs and has a lower suicide risk rate. But a lower rate, in a larger population, is still a lot of people - and many completed suicides had only a few of the conditions listed above. In a one person to another person situation, all indications of suicidality need to be taken seriously.

Crisis Intervention Hotlines that accept calls from the suicidal, or anyone who wishes to discuss a problem, are (in New York City): The Samaritans at 212-673-3000 and Helpline at 212-532-2400.

why do people kill themselves

how to help a suicidal person | warning signs | understanding suicide
myths about suicide | handling a suicidal caller | immediate help

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about me | support | thoughts on suicide |

This material was prepared by Suicide Prevention Resources, a non-profit public education organization that is dedicated to three goals: reduce the degree and duration of suffering of despairing individuals, prevent attempted and completed suicides, and reduce the hardship and stigma suffered by relatives and friends of suicide victims. Suicide Prevention Resources (Box 7693, FDR Station, NY NY 10150-1914) gives talks and workshops in New York City. Permission is granted to reproduce copies of this material for use within your organization or facility.