Myths about suicide seem to make their way around society. Please take this opportunity to educate yourself on the truths. Become a suicide prevention myth-buster among your friends and family. September is Suicide Awareness Prevention Month. Page Nichols, lead therapist for SSM Health Outpatient Behavioral Health, offers these insights for learning the truth about suicide.
Myth: You shouldn’t discuss suicide or suicidal thoughts with friends and family because you might “plant the seed.”
Fact: Having an open dialogue with family and friends regarding suicide can provide a safe place to discuss a loved one’s feelings and can provide an opportunity for education, intervention, and prevention.
Myth: Only mentally ill people attempt or complete suicide.
Fact: Though it’s true people with a mental health diagnosis, such as depression, are at a higher risk for suicide, it’s simply false that only those who suffer from a mental illness think about, attempt, or complete suicide.
Myth: People who attempt suicide but aren’t successful shouldn’t be taken seriously. They’re just looking for attention.
Fact: 63% of people who complete suicide had at least one previous attempt.
Myth: Women complete suicide more often than men.
Fact: Women attempt suicide more often than men; however, men complete suicide more often. This is due to men using more lethal means (firearms and hanging) than women (medication overdoses).
Myth: If a person really wants to die, there’s nothing anyone can do about it.
Fact: Those who are contemplating suicide most often display signs and symptoms prior to the act.
Signs and symptoms
Education is the most powerful tool for intervention and prevention of suicide. Some common signs and symptoms a suicidal person may display include the following.
- Direct verbal threats, such as, “I want to kill myself.”
- Indirect verbal threats, such as, “My family would be better off if I weren’t around.”
- Giving away possessions.
- Discontinuation of life-sustaining medications.
- Refusal to take in food or drink.
- Practices such as cutting or hurting him/herself.
- Erratic and risky behavior.
- Extreme sadness and feelings of hopelessness.
- Self-deprecating remarks.
- Isolation.
- Discontinuation of basic hygiene.
- Loss of interest in things they used to enjoy.
- Glorifying past attempts.
Resources
Being able to recognize the signs and symptoms of suicidal ideation is a great first step; however, knowing what to do is just as important. There is a plethora of resources both locally and nationally. Keeping a printout of these resources with other emergency numbers is a good idea.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, please use one of the following resources. And remember to never to leave an actively suicidal person alone.
- Proceed to the nearest emergency department only if you feel safe enough to drive.
- Contact the new National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for mental health crises by dialing or texting 988. Veterans can dial 988 and press 1 to reach the Veteran Crisis Line. You will be connected to a crisis counselor.
- Dial 911 to reach local law enforcement. They have specially trained crisis officers who can respond to the scene. You can request a CIT officer if available.
While we, as a society, may never be able to prevent 100 percent of suicides, this should always be the goal. As September is National Suicide Prevention Month, please get involved—take the opportunity to create an open dialogue with those around you. By becoming an advocate, you can make a difference; you can save a life.
For more information, please visit https://www.ssmhealth.com/behavioral-health.
