Suicide Prevention: How You Can Save Someone’s Life
Are you concerned that you or someone you know may have suicidal thoughts? It is important to be able to recognize the factors that might put someone at a greater risk for suicide as well as the warning signs that they might currently be contemplating suicide. In 2017, approximately 47,173 Americans committed suicide, but, equipped with the right information, you can help prevent someone you know from taking his or her life.
Risk factors
While mental illness does not directly cause suicide, it is the most significant risk factor associated with it. The vast majority of people who commit suicide do have some sort of mental illness, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Other risk factors include relationship problems, a history of being abused, financial troubles, physical health issues, the death of a loved one, and a lack of a social support network. For someone who already suffers from a mental illness, any of these additional hardships could signify a breaking point.
Warning signs
There are many signs that someone may already be experiencing a crisis and might be considering suicide. If you spot any of the following warning signs in anyone you know, it is time for them to seek help.
Take any of these signs seriously, and don’t hesitate to offer help. You may be able to prevent them from harming themselves.
What can you do?
If the person has any of the risk factors associated with suicide and has exhibited some of the warning signs, first and foremost, you must suggest that they seek professional help if they are not already doing so. Because people usually are not comfortable discussing their mental health, do your best to put them at ease. Explain that many people go to therapy in order to get through a specific hardship, and then they find they no longer need it. Let them know that they should never feel ashamed for having to seek therapy, and help them find the right professional.
A mental health specialist can help in many ways. Through talk therapy, they can help them develop skills for solving problems, for coping with trauma, and for adapting to new situations. They can also help them find inner happiness, confidence and purpose. If they have a serious undiagnosed mental illness, they can help them find the right medication to help them feel balanced.
A professional may also diagnose them with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which can be a serious condition in which one experiences a kind of depression that is associated with a particular season, usually winter. Researchers believe that the reduced sunlight in winter may affect serotonin and melatonin levels, causing SAD. A mental health professional may suggest phototherapy, in which the person uses a light box or a sun lamp, which uses UV light to trigger mood-boosting chemicals in the brain.
You can also suggest some natural ways of combating depression and particularly SAD. Tell them that exercise truly does provide a natural high by releasing endorphins. Even better, suggest that they exercise outside in the natural light. You can also help them make their surroundings more cheerful by decluttering, painting their walls a soothing blue or lavender, and decorating with lively green plants. They can find ways to alleviate stress at home, whether that’s through taking a warm bath, eating healthy home-cooked meals, or listening to relaxing music in the living room.
Suicide profoundly touches the lives of many people every single day. You can help reduce these numbers by knowing what risk factors are associated with suicide and recognizing the warning signs that indicate that a person is in imminent danger of harming himself. Finally, offer help in any way you can by suggesting natural ways of boosting their mood or getting them the professional help they may need. You could indeed save someone’s life.
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Submitted by Melissa Howard (stopsuicide.info).
Are you concerned that you or someone you know may have suicidal thoughts? It is important to be able to recognize the factors that might put someone at a greater risk for suicide as well as the warning signs that they might currently be contemplating suicide. In 2017, approximately 47,173 Americans committed suicide, but, equipped with the right information, you can help prevent someone you know from taking his or her life.
Risk factors
While mental illness does not directly cause suicide, it is the most significant risk factor associated with it. The vast majority of people who commit suicide do have some sort of mental illness, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Other risk factors include relationship problems, a history of being abused, financial troubles, physical health issues, the death of a loved one, and a lack of a social support network. For someone who already suffers from a mental illness, any of these additional hardships could signify a breaking point.
Warning signs
There are many signs that someone may already be experiencing a crisis and might be considering suicide. If you spot any of the following warning signs in anyone you know, it is time for them to seek help.
- They talk about feeling depressed or anxious.
- They indicate that they feel trapped, that they are a burden on others, or that they have no reason to live.
- They express hopelessness or helplessness.
- They behave recklessly, increasingly use alcohol or drugs, or obtain weapons.
- They sleep more or less than usual or isolate themselves.
- They exhibit anger, irritability or impulsivity.
Take any of these signs seriously, and don’t hesitate to offer help. You may be able to prevent them from harming themselves.
What can you do?
If the person has any of the risk factors associated with suicide and has exhibited some of the warning signs, first and foremost, you must suggest that they seek professional help if they are not already doing so. Because people usually are not comfortable discussing their mental health, do your best to put them at ease. Explain that many people go to therapy in order to get through a specific hardship, and then they find they no longer need it. Let them know that they should never feel ashamed for having to seek therapy, and help them find the right professional.
A mental health specialist can help in many ways. Through talk therapy, they can help them develop skills for solving problems, for coping with trauma, and for adapting to new situations. They can also help them find inner happiness, confidence and purpose. If they have a serious undiagnosed mental illness, they can help them find the right medication to help them feel balanced.
A professional may also diagnose them with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which can be a serious condition in which one experiences a kind of depression that is associated with a particular season, usually winter. Researchers believe that the reduced sunlight in winter may affect serotonin and melatonin levels, causing SAD. A mental health professional may suggest phototherapy, in which the person uses a light box or a sun lamp, which uses UV light to trigger mood-boosting chemicals in the brain.
You can also suggest some natural ways of combating depression and particularly SAD. Tell them that exercise truly does provide a natural high by releasing endorphins. Even better, suggest that they exercise outside in the natural light. You can also help them make their surroundings more cheerful by decluttering, painting their walls a soothing blue or lavender, and decorating with lively green plants. They can find ways to alleviate stress at home, whether that’s through taking a warm bath, eating healthy home-cooked meals, or listening to relaxing music in the living room.
Suicide profoundly touches the lives of many people every single day. You can help reduce these numbers by knowing what risk factors are associated with suicide and recognizing the warning signs that indicate that a person is in imminent danger of harming himself. Finally, offer help in any way you can by suggesting natural ways of boosting their mood or getting them the professional help they may need. You could indeed save someone’s life.
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Submitted by Melissa Howard (stopsuicide.info).
