Warning Signs: Suicide
Suicide rarely occurs out of the blue. There are a most always warning signs in a person's behaviour, suggesting that he is thinking of taking his life. Learning to identify these signs in your children, peers and students equips you to help to save a life. Warning signs requiring immediate action are listed on our homepage.
- Threats and fixations: Our homepage lists the kinds of threats that demand immediate attention. Threats can be expressed in a more subtle way by adolescents, like through jokes or creative writing and art assignments.
Potentially suicidal youth may develop a morbid fixation with death or violence expressed thus or as an obsession with violent movies, video games, and music; or a fascination with weapons. Older adults often cannot tell a "normal" interest in violent video games or music from an obsession, whereas peers know what is more typical for this age group.
- Previous suicide attempts: If the person has previously used suicide as an answer to his problems, it can become a behaviour pattern that is repeated in subsequent times of stress.
- Depression: Depression is a biochemical imbalance in the brain that causes a person to think, function and behave differently. The U.S. based National Association of School Psychologists specifies that when symptoms of depression include pervasive thoughts of helplessness and hopelessness, a child or adolescent is conceivably at greater risk for suicide. Untreated depression is the leading cause of suicide. Over 1 in 5 youth experience clinical depression by adulthood. To learn more about identifying depression, go to Warning Signs: Depression.
- Self Injurious Behaviour: Self mutilations with sharp objects may be indicative of suicidal intent. Running in traffic or jumping from heights are also considered self injurious behaviour. Learn more in Deliberate Self Harm/Self Injurious Behaviour (SIB).
- Changes in Physical Habits and Appearance: Dramatic increase or decrease in weight and sleeping hours are often indicative of a psychological disturbance. Persistent complaining about stomachaches and headaches that do not have a biological cause and a constant feeling of tiredness are reasons for concern. Neglecting of hygiene and personal appearance are major warning signs, as is change in physical appearance.
- Changes in Social Behaviour: Withdrawal from family and friends is reason for concern. Students who don't have friends or suddenly reject their friends may be at risk. The National Association of School Psychologists says these changes can include withdrawing from normal relationships, increased absenteeism in school, loss of involvement in regular interests or activities, and social withdrawal and isolation.
- Changes in Personality: Teenagers who become sullen, silent, and withdrawn, or angry and acting out may have problems that can lead to suicide. Kevin Caruso, founder and director of ProjectCare.com, emphasizes the significance of behavioural changes like acting compulsively, losing interest in most activities, no sense of humor, facing a perceived "humiliating" situation, facing a perceived "failure", feeling excessive guilt or shame, acting irrationally, irritability and reckless behaviour including alchohol and drug abuse.
- Inability to Concentrate or Think Rationally: The National Association of School Psychologists says such problems may be reflected in children's classroom behavior, homework habits, academic performance, household chores, even conversation.
- Trauma and Life Challenges: Adolescents undergoing traumatic experiences such as an abusive relationship, whether the abuse is physical, sexual or emotional and whether the abuser is a family member, romantic partner or some other known or unknown individual, is in need of mental health care. Challenging life phases such as suffering from and combating an eating disorder or adjusting to and combating social pressures relating to gender identity precipitate mental difficulties.
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