Understanding Suicide

Hope!

Helpless, hopeless and worthless are three words frequently used to describe the feelings of those who are suicidal. Suffering and pain are a reality in our world today and often lead to these feelings. Life, in and of itself, is valuable because life comes from God. To live is to be valued, because life is divinely inspired and created by God. It is our goal and privilege to help those who have lost hope or are experiencing pain in their life. Let us help, please give us a call.

The idea that a person would want to hurt themselves prompts many questions regarding suicide including: What would make someone feel so hopeless? Why would someone take their life? Are there not signs someone could see? What could have been done to help them?

There is an alarming prevalence of the tragedy of suicide nationwide and our need for awareness. Studies show 8.3 million adults in the U.S. had serious thoughts of committing suicide in the past year and 1.1 million adults actually attempted suicide. Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for youth ages 10-24 and one in 11 high school students made a suicide attempt in the past 12 months.

Help

Talk therapy that focuses on helping the person understand how their thoughts and behaviors affect each other (cognitive behavioral therapy) has been found to be an effective treatment for many people who struggle with thoughts of harming themselves. The effectiveness of medication treatment for depression is supported by research, particularly when medication is combined with psychotherapy.

Risk Factors

Data regarding mental illnesses as risk factors indicate that depression, manic depression, schizophrenia, substance abuse, eating disorders, and severe anxiety increase the probability of suicide attempts and completions. Nine out of 10 people who commit suicide have a diagnosable mental-health problem and up to three out of four individuals who take their own life had a physical illness when they committed suicide.

Warning Signs

A person in acute risk for suicidal behavior most often will show signs of:

• Threatening to hurt or kill him or herself, or talking of wanting to hurt or kill him/herself; and/or,
• Looking for ways to kill him/herself by seeking access to firearms, available pills, or other means; and/or,
• Talking or writing about death, dying or suicide, when these actions are out of the ordinary.

These might be remembered as expressed or communicated ideation. If observed, seek help as soon as possible by contacting a mental health professional or calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for a referral, or call 911.

Additional Warning Signs:

• Increased substance (alcohol or drug) use
• No reason for living; no sense of purpose in life
• Anxiety, agitation, unable to sleep or sleeping all the time
• Feeling trapped – like there’s no way out
• Hopelessness
• Withdrawal from friends, family and society
• Rage, uncontrolled anger, seeking revenge
• Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities, seemingly without thinking
• Dramatic mood changes.

Resources:

There are many effective ways to become educated regarding suicide and to find help for both the suicidal person and those affected by it:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255)

National Suicide Prevention Hotline
1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)

American Association of Suicidology
https://www.suicidology.org

Suicide.org

Suicide prevention, awareness and support

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
https://www.afsp.org

National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center
1-866-SAFEYOUTH (1-866-723-3968)

Community Awareness and Support Center (support for people affected by murder-suicide)
https://www.caascenter.org