Trigger warning: this article discusses suicide and may be very triggering.
Suicide is defined as the act or instance of taking one’s own life voluntarily and intentionally. Suicide is one of the three leading causes of death around the world. It accounts for over one million deaths, or 1.8% of global deaths. Suicide rates have risen 60% in the last 45 years worldwide. Taking all this into consideration, it is crucial for as many people as possible to raise their awareness and educate themselves on possible suicidal warning signs. Indeed, the detection of these signs may very well save lives.
The Signs
Some common obvious signs include mentioning death and that others would be better off without them, expressing strong self-hatred, talking about life being meaningless, letting go of hobbies they once enjoyed, isolating themselves suddenly, writing a will, giving away personal items, telling their loved ones goodbye for closure, self-harming, and stating the need to end intense suffering during a difficult life transition or trauma.
Some less obvious signs include detaching themselves emotionally, mentioning physical pain, increasing alcohol and drug intake, collecting lethal objects, sudden behavioral, eating, and sleep pattern changes, talking about feeling lonely, guilty, and helpless, and showcasing extreme mood swings, irritability, aggression, anxiety, and impulsivity.
What can be done?
When detected, one must decide the course of action to take, according to the situation, when helping someone exhibiting such suicidal warning signs. For example, if a person is blatantly threatening suicide through a lethal means, this is an emergency situation which requires immediate help from professionals. You need to stay with the person, remove the lethal means from reach, and quickly call your local emergency number.
If the situation is not that immediate but some of these warning signs are detected, it is recommended that you privately talk to the person and open up the topic of suicide to listen to them in a non-judgmental, compassionate way. Suggest options to get professional help and, if you struggle to get through to this person, ask for the help of his or her loved ones.
Suicide is a very common cause of death globally, where many people choose to take their own lives, oftentimes, unpredictably. Therefore, paying close attention to both obvious and subtle suicidal warning signs could make a huge difference in someone’s struggle between life and death. Upon acting on the detection of such signs through the display of support, care, and love, you may be the reason for a loved one’s second chance at life.