What is Suicide?
Suicide is when someone dies as a result of actions they took with the intent or expectation to end their life. There is no single cause for suicide, and the factors involved can be complex. Additionally, if an individual dies by suicide, the loss has long-lasting negative effects on their family members, friends, community members, and others.
Suicide is public health concern, but it is preventable. Learning to recognize warning signs and knowing what resources are available can help save lives. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors are also treatable. It is possible for those struggling with suicidal thoughts or behaviors to get help and recover.
Risk Factors
Risk factors are characteristics that may increase an individual’s vulnerability to suicide, and some factors may trigger a suicide attempt. It is important to note that not everyone who has these risk factors will attempt suicide, and some people will attempt suicide without having risk factors. Major risk factors include:
Individual Factors
- Prior suicide attempt(s)
- Substance abuse
- Mental disorders, particularly depression and other mood disorders
- Impulsive or aggressive tendencies
- Current or previous experience with violence, abuse, or trauma
- Chronic pain, illness, or disability
- Employment/financial troubles or loss
- Legal/criminal trouble, such as a recent arrest or release from prison
- Sense of hopelessness
- Easy access to lethal means, such as the presence of a firearm in the home
Relationship Factors
- Bullying
- Knowing someone who died by suicide, particularly a family member
- Family history of a mental disorder or substance abuse
- Loss of a relationship
- High conflict or violent relationship(s)
- Social isolation
Community Factors
- Lack of access to health care
- Suicide cluster in the community
- Stress of acculturation
- Historical trauma, such as resettlement and destruction of culture and economies
- Community violence
- Discrimination
Societal Factors
- Stigma associated with help-seeking and mental illness
- Unsafe media portrayals of suicide
- Cultural or religious beliefs that condone suicide, such as a belief that suicide is a noble resolution of a personal dilemma
Warning Signs
While risk factors may indicate how vulnerable a person is to attempting suicide, warning signs are new or changed behaviors that indicate that the person is in danger of attempting suicide. These signs are especially important to watch for if the person shows these signs after recently experiencing a painful loss, event, or change. Reach out to the individual if you notice any the following:
Talking about:
- Feeling unbearable pain
- Death or a recent fascination with death
- Feeling hopeless, worthless, or trapped
- Feeling guilt, shame, or anger
- Feeling like they are a burden to others
- Wanting to die or wanting to kill themselves
Changes in behavior or mood, such as:
- Recent suicide attempt
- Increased substance abuse
- Losing interest in personal appearance or hygiene
- Withdrawing from family, friends, or community
- Saying goodbye to family and friends
- Giving away prized possessions
- Putting affairs in order, such as making a will
- Acting anxious, depressed, or agitated
- Expressing rage, uncontrolled anger, or revenge-seeking
- Extreme mood swings, suddenly changing from very sad to very calm or happy
- Recklessness
Seek professional help immediately if you observe the following behavior:
Talking about immediate harm to oneself or others
Planning to attempt suicide (such as searching for lethal methods online, stockpiling medications, or buying a firearm)
Acting in such an erratic manner that you are concerned about their safety
Did You Know?
Suicide was the
leading cause of death for Americans aged 1-44 in 2022.
Source: cdc.gov
There are
suicide attempts in the U.S. every year - that's one attempt every 25.5 seconds.
Source: cdc.gov
There are
for every death by suicide in the U.S.
Source: thencsp.org
Suicide is the
leading cause of death for Native American youth ages 10-24.
Source: cnay.org
Native Americans have a
higher suicide rate than the general population.
Source: cdc.gov
Native teen suicide rates are
higher than the national average.
Source: cdc.gov
people died from suicide in 2022 - that's around one death every 11 minutes.
Source: cdc.gov
people lose someone to suicide every year - that's over 6 people every 11 minutes.
Source: thencsp.org
people acted on the decision to attempt suicide in less than 5 minutes.
Source: hsph.harvard.edu
of adults surveyed in the U.S. believe suicide is preventable.
Source: afsp.org
individuals considering suicide give some sign of their intentions, either verbally or behaviorally.
Source: cdc.gov
people who attempt suicide and receive medical attention have no further suicide attempts.
Source: hsph.harvard.edu
How You Can Help
Ask
If you know someone who may be thinking about suicide, ask them “Are you thinking about suicide?” in a direct, supportive, and non-judgmental tone. Other questions you can ask include “How do you hurt?” and “How can I help?” Take their answers seriously; listen to their reasons for being in emotional pain and for any potential reasons they want to stay alive. Be sure to focus on their reasons to continue living and avoid imposing your reasons why they should stay alive. This can open the door for effective dialogue and help everyone involved know what steps to take next.
Never promise to keep their thoughts of suicide a secret.
Be There
Talk with the person to develop ideas for what and who will be the most effective sources of help. Make sure you or anyone wanting to help is willing and able to be there for the person; do not commit to anything you are unable or unwilling to do. Some ways to be there for the person include being physically present for someone, speaking with them on the phone when you can, or any other way you can show support. Helping the person feel connected is a key protective factor in reducing hopelessness, psychological pain, and suicide risk.
Help Keep Them Safe
Once you determined that the person is thinking about suicide, ask follow-up questions such as:
- Have you done anything to try to kill yourself before talking with me?
- Do you know how you are going to kill yourself?
- Do you have a specific plan in mind?
- When are you planning on killing yourself?
- What access do you have to your planned method?
Asking these questions can help you establish how immediate and severe the danger is. If the person has immediate access to a lethal means, such as a firearm or medication, and are very serious about attempting suicide, calling for emergency help or taking the person to an emergency department may be necessary. If the danger is not immediate, find ways to put time and distance between the person and their chosen method of suicide to reduce the risk. If appropriate safety measures are taken in a spirit of support, it is unlikely that the person will look for an alternate method of suicide.
Help Them Connect
Help the person connect to support and resources to help them establish a safety net. Explore options with them by asking questions like:
- Are you currently seeing a mental health professional?
- Have you seen a mental health professional in the past?
- Is seeing a mental health professional an option for you right now?
- Are there other resources in the community that can help?
Another way to help the person connect with options is to work with them to develop a safety plan. This can include how to recognize severe thoughts of suicide, what to do in those moments of crisis, and who to reach out to when a crisis occurs.
Follow Up
After your initial contact with the person, and after you have connected them to the immediate support they need, make sure to follow up with them. Some ways to follow up include:
- Giving them a call
- Sending them a text message
- Sending them a letter or postcard through the mail
- Connecting through email or social media
- Visiting them at home
Check in with them to see if there is more you are able to help them with or if there is something you said you would do and haven’t had the chance to do yet. This can reduce the risk of additional suicide attempts.
Protective Factors
While risk factors may increase a person’s vulnerability to suicide, protective factors act as buffers or support and can reduce the person’s risk for suicide. Major protective factors for suicide include:
Individual Factors
- Effective problem-solving and coping skills
- Ability to adapt to change
- Reason for living, such as family, friends, pets, etc.
- Strong sense of cultural identity
- Self-esteem and a sense of purpose or meaning in life
- Sense of safety, dignity, and hope
Relationship Factors
- Support from partners, family, and friends
- Connectedness to individuals, family, and others
- Sense of belonging
Community Factors
- Feeling connected to school, community, and other social institutions
- Availability to consistent, high quality, and effective physical and behavioral health care
Societal Factors
- Reduced access to lethal means of suicide among people at risk
- Cultural, religious, or personal beliefs that discourage suicide
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if I am thinking about suicide?
First, know that you are not alone. Many people have gone through what you’re experiencing, and they have found help. Thinking about suicide is a sign of severe emotional distress and is neither shameful nor a sign of weakness. Help is available, and you can get better.
Second, it is OK to talk about suicide. Talking can help relieve some of the feelings you are experiencing. You can talk to someone you trust about how you feel. You can also join a support group or talk to a health worker (such as a doctor or mental health professional), a counselor, or a social worker. It is important to reach out if you’re feeling any of the following:
- Pain that feels overwhelming and unbearable
- Feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness
- Loneliness
- Constant negative feelings
- Difficulty understanding why you are thinking or feeling this way
- The feeling that everyone would be better off without you
- Difficulty imagining any way to deal with your problems other than suicide
Third, if you feel that you are in immediate danger of harming yourself, call 911 or contact the 988 Lifeline.
Who do I contact in case of an emergency or crisis?
If you or another person are in immediate danger, call 911 or go to your local emergency department.
If you or another person are struggling or in crisis, you can call 988 or visit the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline website. You can also visit:
- your primary doctor
- your local psychiatric hospital
- your local walk in clinic
- your local emergency department
- your local urgent care
Will talking about suicide increase the chances of a suicide attempt?
No. In fact, some studies have found that talking about suicide, especially with the person at risk, decreases the risk of suicide. It helps the person feel understood and can help them reconsider a plan to attempt suicide.
What interventions are available?
Creating a safety plan with the help of a health professional can help reduce suicidal thoughts and actions. These plans focus on limiting access to lethal means and listing coping strategies, people, and resources that can help in a crisis.
Follow-up calls can also help reduce the risk of a suicidal attempt. Effective follow-up calls are supportive, monitor for risk, and encourage at-risk individuals to engage in treatment and safe behaviors.
What therapies are available?
Therapy has been found to reduce the risk of future suicide attempts in at-risk individuals who have attempted suicide. Therapy focuses on addressing psychological and behavioral changes to manage suicidal thoughts and reduce suicidal behaviors. Some of these options include cognitive behavior therapy for suicide prevention (CBT-SP), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), attachment based family therapy (ABFT), and prolonged grief therapy (PGT) for survivors of suicide loss.
Is there medication that can treat suicidal behavior?
There is no medication that specifically reduces the risk of suicide; however, many at-risk individuals struggle with a mental illness or substance use problems and may benefit from medication along with therapy. These individuals should work with their health care provider to determine the best medication or medication combination and the right dosage.
What resources are available?
Quileute Nation has a New Beginnings program to provide education and training to the community regarding to suicide prevention. Please check back for more information.
FindTreatment.gov helps connect individuals to treatment centers for mental health and substance use disorders, which can help reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) has a prevention resource web page for general and specific resources for prevention and treatment, such as recognizing warning signs for suicide in autistic individuals.