How To Help Someone Having Suicidal Thoughts

 Suicide is a leading cause of death in the US, including among teens, and it has only gotten worse with the pandemic. Too many teens are at risk when having to spend time in unsafe homes and facing cyberbullying, and not seeing trained educators in a position to see them and help them. There are resources and organizations that can help. The SPTS is one good example. But the need for funding and support remains. Here is a look at some of those warning signs and how suicide can be prevented.

Understanding some of the warning signs of suicide

Things to look out for that might indicate someone in school, that you know, or in your home, is thinking about suicide include;

  • Being more emotional in general, what they say or even write
  • Talking about death, wanting to die or methods of suicide
  • Giving away items that are important to them
  • Expressing being empty, feeling hopeless and not wanting to live
  • Becoming withdrawn from friends and family, no longer doing things they used to enjoy doing
  • Saying they feel like they are trapped and there is no solution
  • Feeling like they are a burden to their loved ones
  • Sleep problems whether that is sleeping too much or not being able to sleep much at all
  • Not looking after themselves in terms of washing, eating or exercise
  • Having mood swings
  • Taking risks such as drinking too much, taking drugs, or driving too fast
  • Acting agitated and being more anxious
  • Suicide prevention resources will also say to look for those who detail plans and methods for suicide such as buying a gun, or building up a stockpile of pills
  • Expressing feelings of shame or guilt
  • Being angry and acting out their rage

Preventing teen suicide

People do not express suicidal thoughts just because they are stressed. These signs should not be ignored or explained away. Seek resources from the SPTS and other organizations so you understand the signs and what to do when you see them. There is also the acronym REACH to follow. R - Recognizing when a teen is struggling. E - Engaging with them to talk and to listen to them. A - Asking them if they are having feelings or thoughts about suicide. C - Connecting them to resources and support that can help them. H - Healing for yourself as well as them because it is difficult and your mental well-being is important.

Conclusion

When you are looking to educate yourself about teen suicide and how best to prevent it, you need to know the warning signs and you need the right suicide prevention resources. While it is not as simple as knowing the signs and being able to stop it just like that, there are opportunities to prevent it when you have the right tools and knowledge. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in this country but those numbers do not need to be as high as they are. While it is certainly complicated if more funding was put into resources, education and mental health, we would be losing far fewer people.

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