How to Identify Suicide Risk Before It's Too Late
January W. Payne
Every 17 minutes, someone dies by suicide in
"The tragedy of completed suicide is that most could have been prevented if family members knew what to look for," says
"Research shows that most people who die by suicide have a mood disorder like depression or bipolar disorder, or (have) a substance abuse problem, or both," either diagnosed or undiagnosed, she says.
Suicide has no "face," no race, no age or income level that determines who is at risk. Recent celebrity-related deaths make this clear.
More than 90,000 people were hospitalized in 2002 after attempting to take their own lives. The issue is costly in dollars --
Often, experts say, it's a stressful or negative event that drives a person already struggling with depression to harm himself -- including bad breakups, financial problems, or loss of a job or home. Such events can be a "very high-risk time," Boesky says. So the optimal way to intervene is to encourage a depressed person to get treatment early on.
But because depression can bring a feeling of hopelessness, those affected sometimes don't believe that getting proper treatment will make them feel better, says
WARNING SIGNS
What behavior may indicate a person is at risk for death by suicide? Boesky and Borenstein suggest a number of warning signs, changes in behavior lasting for two weeks or more:
Talk of suicide. If your loved one has talked about suicide or wanting to be dead, don't assume he or she won't follow through. "If someone is using suicidal statements to get attention, it's important to take it seriously because they may really feel suicidal and because the way they're going about getting attention is scary and serious," Boesky says.
Previous suicide attempts
Being overly self-critical or preoccupied with failures or mistakes
Listening to or reading music, books, or poetry with themes of death or destruction
Giving away valuable possessions, as Koenig reportedly did before traveling to
Serious alcohol or substance abuse
Additional risk factors listed by the CDC:
Family history of suicide
Family history of child maltreatment
History of mental disorders, particularly depression
Feelings of hopelessness
Impulsive or aggressive tendencies
Cultural and religious beliefs (e.g., belief that suicide is noble resolution of a personal dilemma)
Local epidemics of suicide
Isolation, a feeling of being cut off from other people
Barriers to accessing mental health treatment
Loss (relational, social, work, or financial)
Physical illness
Easy access to lethal methods
Unwillingness to seek help because of the stigma attached to mental health and substance abuse disorders or to suicidal thoughts
If you notice any of these, experts say you should not hesitate to speak up.
"Say, 'I'm concerned about you,' and spell out the reasons: 'You seem to be depressed. You seem to be anxious. I'm concerned that you may have depression, and this is a condition that's treatable, and we need to help you get treatment for it,'" Borenstein says. "Often, family members are hesitant to bring up their concerns. But once they do, people often respond in a positive way."
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