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What to do if you're suicidal - and how you can help others

sushii

sushii

Bluelight Crew
Joined
Apr 7, 2004
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Recently there have been an increase of suicidal threads in this forum. This thread is to help increase awareness of suicide and offer people practical solutions and support for when they feel at risk. If you feel suicidal or are in danger of harming yourself, please tell someone. Don't keep it to yourself. Tell a friend or a family member, or a mental health professional. If you feel you have nobody to trust or are embarassed to admit what you're going through, there are anonymous helplines set up especially to deal with suicide. The counsellors are trained, won't judge you, and can provide support and assistance when you feel there's nowhere to turn.

Suicide hotlines

For anyone looking for information to help friends: helping someone who's suicidal; what to do in an emergency.

All the information used in this thread has been adapted from the links at the bottom of this post. Please check them out for more information and resources.

What to Do if you Want to End your Life

If you are feeling suicidal or want to end your life, it's important that you keep yourself safe. Try to remember that thoughts about taking your life are just thoughts. They do not mean you have to act on them. No matter how overwhelming they are or how often you have them. They also don't mean that you will always have those thoughts.

Everyone goes through tough times and experience times when things seem hopeless. It is possible to get through these times by creating your own 'tool kit' of coping strategies, which you can use when you're feeling suicidal or when things feel hopeless. Some suggestions include:

Postpone any Decision to End your Life: While it may feel like you have to act now, try to postpone that decision. Keep a list of other things you can do to distract yourself. This might include watching a DVD or going to the movies, playing a game, ringing a friend, chatting on msn, doing some exercise, reading a book or listening to music. You can then put this into action when the feeling starts to surface. Many people report that by postponing a decision to die, they found that their life did change. They were able to get the support they needed and could move on to a better, happier place.

Tell Someone: Although it may seem hard, and may seem like a bigger challenge than taking steps to end your life, it's important to reach out to others who might help you to see alternative ways of solving or thinking about a problem, and help to you to realize what is important to you, allowing you to have a more positive outlook.
You could tell a family member or friend, counsellor or any person that you feel comfortable with (this might also be a teacher or religious leader). If they don't believe you or don't want to listen, keep trying until someone else does. Sometimes people don't react well at first because they don't know how. This is not your fault, and although it may feel hard, don't give up!

If you are having difficulty speaking about what you're going through, you might start with sentences such as 'Right now, I'm feeling...', 'I think it started when...', 'I've been feeling this for...', 'My sleep has been...', 'Lately school/work/uni has been...'.

Ring a Crisis Line: If you feel are having difficulty talking to people you know, phone a crisis line.

Write Down your Feelings: Writing down your feelings, or keeping a journal, can be a great way of understanding your feelings and a particular situation. It can also help you think about alternative solutions to problems.

Set Small Goals: Sometimes people set goals which are almost unachievable and then feel worse when they cannot reach them. Try to set goals that are achievable for you, even if it's on a day by day, or hour by hour, basis. And remember to reward yourself too.

Exercise and Eating Well: Even though you might not feel like it, exercising and eating well can help when you are feeling down. Biological factors, as well as social factors, influence how you feel and how you react think about certain things and yourself. Exercise helps stimulate hormones, such as endorphins, which help you feel better about yourself and your life. If you haven't done a lot of exercise before, it might be a good idea to start doing something small a couple of times each week. A 15 minute walk or 2 or 3 laps of a pool would be a good place to start.

Avoid Drugs and Alcohol: Try not to use drugs or alcohol in the hopes of feeling better. The feeling is usually temporary and the after effects often make the problem worse.

Talk to a Psychologist or Psychiatrist: Psychiatrists are health workers who have special training in mental illnesses, including depression, schizophrenia, and suicide. Clinical psychologists have a similar training, but do not administer medication. You may be able to find them through your GP, your local community health centre, or through colleges of psychiatry and psychology. Some GPs and other allied health staff also do counselling. You may be able to obtain details through divisions of general practice in your area, and/or through your community health centre.

Why do People Want to End Their Lives?
Sometimes living can become very painful and problems can seem overwhelming. At some point many people think about suicide, but do not plan or act on it. However, for others the thought of suicide might begin to seem like a real alternative to a problem or situation that appears hopeless or as if there is no solution.

Situations that might contribute to a feeling of hopelessness include:
• Relationship break-ups
• Family problems
• Sexual, physical or mental abuse
• Drug or alcohol problems
• Mental illness, including schizophrenia, bipolar and depression
• Major loss and grief such as a death
• School, uni or work problems
• Unemployment or being unemployed for a long time
• Feeling like you don't belong anywhere
• Any problem that you can't see a solution for and is ongoing

Reachout

Suicide helpline (Australia)

Suicide crisis centre

suicide.com
 
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There are many commonly-held myths about suicide that sometimes make it difficult for people to recognise when someone is at risk. This post (and the next few) outline some questions and answers about suicide that may help in determining when someone is in danger. The following posts offer some means of helping people that are suicidal, including what to do in an emergency.

Understanding suicide (from www.suicidehelpline.org.au)

If someone’s talking about suicide, doesn’t it mean they just want attention and won’t actually hurt themselves?

People who complete suicide have usually indicated their intentions in some way beforehand. It’s essential that any talk of suicide is taken very seriously.

Whether they plan to go ahead with it or not, people who talk about suicide or threaten to kill themselves are often looking for help. They’re generally attempting to communicate the degree of emotional pain that they’re experiencing, and it’s important that they’re able to reach out to someone who will be understanding.

You may not think the issues faced by the suicidal person warrant taking their life, but remember that their experience is different to yours. Try to understand their distress and not dismiss it as attention-seeking or label their behaviours as manipulative.

Isn’t there little warning if a person really intends to suicide?

Most people who plan to suicide do express signs of intent, but these are often not recognised or understood.

Some behavioural warning signs include:

Talking about suicide
Making a suicide plan
Self-harming or prior suicidal behaviour
Tidying or finalising affairs
Organising or talking of making a will
Unexplained crying
Withdrawal
Quitting activities that were previously important
Giving away prized possessions
Over or uncharacteristic use of alcohol or drugs
Lack of interest in the future
Uncharacteristic risk-taking or recklessness (eg driving recklessly)
Fighting and/or breaking the law
Some physical warning signs include:

Loss of interest in personal hygiene or appearance
Loss of physical energy
Sudden and extreme changes in eating habits; losing or gaining weight
Major changes to sleeping patterns (too much or too little)
Loss of interest in sex
Increase in minor illnesses
If I ask someone if they’re suicidal, won’t I be planting the idea in their head or pushing them towards it?

The only way to really know if a person is contemplating suicide is to ask. Asking someone if they’re feeling suicidal may feel difficult but it shows them that you care. It’s often a relief for a suicidal person to have someone recognise the seriousness of their distress and to be given permission to talk about it. You won’t be doing any harm to ask and it may reduce their risk.

If someone is intent on suicide, isn’t it impossible to stop them?

Suicide is not inevitable and can be prevented. Immediate practical help, such as staying with the person, encouraging them to talk about how they feel and helping them plan for the future can deflect their suicidal intentions in the short-term. This should be followed by professional support to help them in the long-term, complemented by ongoing social support.

If a person has already attempted suicide and survived, doesn’t that mean they’ll never try it again?

A suicide attempt is regarded as a risk factor, and it’s likely that the level of danger will increase with each subsequent attempt. The risk is high for the first three months to a year after an attempt, and then declines but remains throughout the person’s lifetime.

What if someone shows all the warning signs but suddenly seems happy again? Should I still be worried?

If a suicidal person appears to have a sudden unexpected recovery or turnabout in mood, the danger period may not be over. This may actually be a sign that the person has decided to suicide and is feeling resolved and at peace with their plan to end their life.

It’s important to monitor and question any sudden shift or unexpected positive mood change, particularly if the person is finalising affairs or giving away treasured possessions. Seek professional help so that you are not solely responsible.

What makes someone want to take their own life?

People who feel suicidal are experiencing intense emotional pain. They want to stop this pain and see suicide as an answer.

A number of experiences and circumstances increase a person’s risk of suicide. Some examples of high risk factors include:

Any form of abuse - emotional, physical or sexual, past or present
Any significant loss
Relationship breakdown
Depression or mental illness
Living in remote areas or in social isolation
Previous suicide attempts or deliberate self-harm
Exposure to suicidal behaviour in others, particularly another’s suicidal death
Parental separation or divorce
Drug or alcohol abuse
Homelessness
Failing grades or dropping out of courses
Legal or court action
Financial crises such as job loss, drought, bankruptcy

Suicidal feelings can be triggered by any life event. The key question is how a person feels about an issue and what meaning it has for the person. The degree of powerlessness, helplessness, hopelessness or worthlessness a person is experiencing affects their level of risk of suicide.
 
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Helping someone who's suicidal (from http://www.suicidehelpline.org.au/ and www.chyps.co.uk)

Suicide is not chosen: it happens when pain exceeds resources for coping with pain

Letting them express their thoughts and feelings can help a suicidal person ‘share the load’ of their troubles and put things in perspective. It’s important not to minimise their problems. Avoid statements such as “You don’t know how lucky you are” and “You shouldn’t feel like that”. Instead, acknowledge the pain they’re experiencing right now. Often, knowing someone cares enough to get involved and listen can be a great help to someone who is suicidal.

Above all - be non-judgemental. A person isn't weak, or flawed, or 'bad' because they feel suicidal. It might not even mean that they want to die - just that they have more pain than they can cope with at the moment.

Supporting someone who’s suicidal can be exceptionally hard on you and it’s important that you also look after yourself. It might be beneficial to seek professional support yourself, or to talk about things to someone close to you.

How should I talk to them about it?

Let the person at risk know that you’re concerned and that you care
Let them know what you have observed
Ask directly if they’re feeling suicidal or have had thoughts about suicide
Show respect – be understanding of their situation; be honest and genuine in your concern
Reassure the person that you’re taking their distress seriously
Talk openly and freely; let them talk
Focus on a plan of action to stay safe
Offer realistic hope – remember that their problems won’t be solved overnight

What if I think something is wrong but they insist they’re ok?

Continue to be observant
Trust your instincts
Follow through on any suspicions
Check if others have noticed anything different
Find out if the person is experiencing other warning signs you haven’t yet picked up on
Reassure the person that you will listen if they have any more suicidal thoughts or feelings

How can I determine how high the risk is?

Find out whether they have a suicide plan. Is the plan very detailed? Do they have the means to carry it out? Have they got a timeframe for carrying it out?
Ask whether they’ve made any prior attempts
The more questions they answer ‘yes’ to, the higher the immediate risk

Should I keep their plans to myself?

Avoid secrecy pacts
Be firm about your intentions to involve others if they won’t – tell them you can’t keep this crisis to yourself for their sake
Encourage them to get professional help and support them to do so
For your own sake as well as theirs, don’t deal with this with alone – you need to look after yourself by sharing the responsibility
What if they don’t want to talk to a professional?

Identify other supports such as parents, friends, family, colleagues or teachers etc
 
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What to do in an emergency

Finding out that someone has just made a suicide attempt or is about to harm themselves is a daunting situation to be in. Below are some guidelines to help support you in an immediate crisis.

If someone has threatened suicide, find out how immediate the risk is by determining whether they actually have a plan, and whether they have the means to put their plan into action. If they do, it's important to do what you cant to ensure their immediate or long-term safety.

Don’t leave the person alone, or if they’ve phoned you, stay on the phone and find out exactly where they are and whether anyone else is there

Remove any firearms, medications and other poisons, ropes or hoses – if you’re on the phone, encourage them to remove these items
from their sight themselves

DO NOT attempt to wrestle a weapon away from someone as you may put yourself at risk

Make a safety contract with the person that they won’t try to harm themselves for a certain period of time – make sure this plan is achievable and realistic

Encourage and support them to go to a place where they’ll remain safe, such as:
- the emergency department of the local hospital
- their local crisis centre or mental health centre
- home (if they feel safe there and someone can stay with them)

If you need immediate advice and support use the phone to call:

An ambulance
The police (for a welfare check or if the person has a weapon or is in a dangerous situation)
A recognised Suicide Helpline
A Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team
Their own doctor, counsellor or psychologist

Once the crisis is over and the person is safe, encourage them to seek long-term help if they are not doing so already, and to be upfront about their experiences if they are already under the care of a mental health professional. Suicidal thoughts don't just disappear on their own, and one failed attempt often leads to another.
 
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Suicide hotlines

America

Suicidehotlines.com

Australia

Lifeline - 13 11 14

Suicide prevention - national helplines

Canada

Centre for suicide prevention


What to expect if you've never called a hotline

Imperfect humans who really want to help you. Many of them are volunteers. They may have different experiences with depression: some may have depressive family members, some may have had a previous family suicide, some may have no personal experience but just want to help. Education and training levels will differ. Some may be training to become a doctor or other professional in the field, many or most will have had special training or certification. All of them are there because they really don't want you to commit suicide

They are there to listen, to help you talk, and perhaps to direct you to treatment in your local area. Don't expect too much and try to be open. They may not always say the exact right thing. Just let them try to help get you through the moment so that you can live another day.
 
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Coping with suicidal death (from http://www.suicidehelpline.org.au/)

Grief is a natural response to the loss of someone special or something you value.

Grieving for someone who has died requires a big adjustment to life and is different for everyone. It’s a process of adapting to the changes you must face in your life, your thoughts, your hopes, your beliefs and your future.

It’s important to understand that grief is not a sign of weakness or poor coping skills, but a healthy part of the healing process. As the grieving process is worked through, the intensity of grief will subside and there will be small gaps of relief between intense emotional times.

Although the process of grieving is different for everyone, psychologists have identified four tasks that most people need to work through in order to resolve their grief. These are:

accepting the reality of the loss;
experiencing the pain of grief;
adjusting to life without the deceased person; and
moving on with life (including investing in another lifestyle and/or relationship).

While any type of death is painful, losing someone through suicide can intensify the grief you feel for their death. You may experience a range of unexpected emotions alongside many unanswered questions.

Why?

One of the hardest aspects of bereavement by suicide is not being able to understand why the person has taken their life. Even if you were aware of the difficulties and desperation the person was facing, it’s difficult to understand why taking their life was the only answer for them. The question of ‘why’ is one that can haunt those bereaved by suicide because, in most cases, it can never truly be resolved.

Guilt

People who are bereaved by suicide often experience feelings of guilt. You may feel you should have seen it coming, or that you could have done more to prevent it. If there was conflict in your relationship with the deceased person you may feel responsible for their suicide. It’s important to remember that it’s easier to recognise a person’s distress in hindsight, and that the level of support you offered them was based on the understanding you had of their situation at the time.

Sometimes people leave a suicide note that blames someone for their suicide. Suicide notes are usually written at a time when the person is feeling very desperate and disturbed. When someone’s at the point of suicide, they’re usually unable to think clearly and rationally and are unlikely to be able to express their true thoughts and feelings.

No one should feel responsible for someone else making the choice to take their own life. If you really feel that you could have been of more help, allow yourself to think about how you could have offered more support and why you didn’t, but don’t dwell on these thoughts. You will never know whether anything you might have done or not done would really have saved the person’s life. Counselling can help you to let go of feeling responsible.

Anger

Anger with the deceased person is a normal but often confusing reaction. You may feel angry at them for leaving and causing so much pain; you might find yourself blaming someone else, such as a psychologist, for not having done more; or you might blame a higher power such as God. You may also feel angry at yourself for not preventing the suicide. Denying your anger is far more damaging than letting yourself express it, but you need to find a way of doing so that it not self-destructive. Talking about it often helps, or you may find a physical activity, such as walking or playing sport, that enables you to release it.

Relief

In some cases the suicide may not be unexpected. The person may have made repeated attempts or threats and their suffering may have been obvious. In such a case the suicide might bring you a sense of relief. You may have felt drained and burdened by their pain, and now you’re relieved that you don’t have to worry anymore. Often there’s a great deal of guilt associated with this relief. Remember that it’s normal to feel relieved when a difficult situation ends, and also that it’s likely that the suicidal person saw death as a relief as well.

Stress, anxiety and depression

Sometimes people who are bereaved by suicide suffer post-traumatic stress symptoms or anxiety. This is a reaction to the traumatic nature of suicide and is particularly likely to occur if you witnessed the suicide or found the deceased person’s body. You may feel panicky, have difficulty sleeping and concentrating, experience nightmares and vivid memories of the suicide, dread the thought of being alone or feel withdrawn and detached from others. Occasionally this stress and anxiety can develop into a more severe condition called post-traumatic stress disorder. Please see your doctor or a mental health specialist if you are concerned about the level of your anxiety and the ways in which you’re dealing with it (eg. using drugs or alcohol).

You may also experience depression as a result of the suicide – in fact, people bereaved by suicide can be at high risk of suicide themselves. You may feel that there is no longer any point to life without the deceased. You may feel that you’re to blame for the suicide and you don’t deserve to be happy. You may feel deserted and rejected by the deceased or other people you’re close to – friends may not offer the support you need and loneliness may add to your grief. It’s vital that you talk to someone if you’re concerned about these types of thoughts and feelings.

Shame

Often, when a death is caused by suicide, the pain of grieving is added to by the stigma attached to suicide. You may be unsure of what to tell people for fear that they’ll judge you or the deceased.

Your own acceptance of the person’s choice to suicide can help to relieve your shame, and it’s important to speak to others who share this acceptance.

Remember, often people’s discomfort with talking about a suicidal death is about death itself rather than how it occurred and they would react in a similar way if the death was due to illness.

Looking after yourself

You’re in for a tough ride, and it’s important to look after yourself. Spend time with nurturing people and ensure you have the time to yourself that you need.

Significant events such as birthdays, Christmas and anniversaries and triggers such as smells, weather conditions and objects can stir intense feelings. Be prepared for these and have a plan for when you feel overwhelmed, such as calling a friend or going for a walk.

At times, particularly in the first year or so, you may feel that you’ll never recover. Any relief you get from grief will seem short-lived and the pain never-ending. You will find, however, that over time, the gaps of relief lengthen and the intensity of the pain diminishes.

Many people bereaved by suicide benefit from counselling. Some people only need one or two sessions, others need ongoing support. You may be able to access free or subsidised support through your local community health centre, your workplace, school or hospital pastoral care. You can also call telephone counselling services such as Suicide Helpline Victoria for the cost of a local call. It may also help to attend a support group to share your experience with other people bereaved by suicide.

Just as the reasons behind each suicide are unique, so too are the reactions and coping processes of those left behind. Be kind to yourself, allow yourself to feel the pain and eventually you’ll realise you’ve begun to build a new life. How long you grieve for is not a measure of how much you loved the person who died. You’ll never forget, but you’re allowed to – and you must – move on.

Some other BL links:

How can we help? - dealing with suicide

And another great thread on coping with death - [06] Bereavement by dr seuss
 
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You've put a lot of effort in sushii

The least I can do is thoroughly read it ~ shame on me !:o


Post one ~ superb ! That aside one thing I would do differently would be to put the crisis line numbers/links at the end of the bit which says 'if you're having difficulty talking to people close to you' paraphrased but you get me I think



Try to understand their distress and not dismiss it as attention-seeking or label their behaviours as manipulative.
Click to expand...

I need to talk through this with you. I am a reactionary old git clearly! :\


The only other suggestion I have is to include a system of headings and links , this will assist in getting the short attention span bluelighter to engage, rather be horrified and flee for comfort in a k-hole or whatever. I think if that can be implemented successfully it'll be a credit The Dark Side and you sushii.
 
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If/ When i have ever thought about ending the pain, I just always try to think about the loved ones that are around me and think of how much pain I would put them through. I know it's hard to think sometimes when I'm that low, that they would even miss me, cause I can be a "fuk up". But they would. And i always end my irrational thinking w/ "how can i be that selfish?"

Props to Sushi for being thoughtful and kind enuff to take the time and energy to make this thread, I hope it helps somebody!
 
sushii said:
Recently there have been an increase of suicidal threads in this forum. This thread is to help increase awareness of suicide and offer people practical solutions and support for when they feel at risk. If you feel suicidal or are in danger of harming yourself, please tell someone. Don't keep it to yourself. Tell a friend or a family member, or a mental health professional. If you feel you have nobody to trust or are embarassed to admit what you're going through, there are anonymous helplines set up especially to deal with suicide. The counsellors are trained, won't judge you, and can provide support and assistance when you feel there's nowhere to turn.

Suicide hotlines

For anyone looking for information to help friends: helping someone who's suicidal; what to do in an emergency.

All the information used in this thread has been adapted from the links at the bottom of this post. Please check them out for more information and resources.

What to Do if you Want to End your Life

If you are feeling suicidal or want to end your life, it's important that you keep yourself safe. Try to remember that thoughts about taking your life are just thoughts. They do not mean you have to act on them. No matter how overwhelming they are or how often you have them. They also don't mean that you will always have those thoughts.

Everyone goes through tough times and experience times when things seem hopeless. It is possible to get through these times by creating your own 'tool kit' of coping strategies, which you can use when you're feeling suicidal or when things feel hopeless. Some suggestions include:

Postpone any Decision to End your Life: While it may feel like you have to act now, try to postpone that decision. Keep a list of other things you can do to distract yourself. This might include watching a DVD or going to the movies, playing a game, ringing a friend, chatting on msn, doing some exercise, reading a book or listening to music. You can then put this into action when the feeling starts to surface. Many people report that by postponing a decision to die, they found that their life did change. They were able to get the support they needed and could move on to a better, happier place.

Tell Someone: Although it may seem hard, and may seem like a bigger challenge than taking steps to end your life, it's important to reach out to others who might help you to see alternative ways of solving or thinking about a problem, and help to you to realize what is important to you, allowing you to have a more positive outlook.
You could tell a family member or friend, counsellor or any person that you feel comfortable with (this might also be a teacher or religious leader). If they don't believe you or don't want to listen, keep trying until someone else does. Sometimes people don't react well at first because they don't know how. This is not your fault, and although it may feel hard, don't give up!

If you are having difficulty speaking about what you're going through, you might start with sentences such as 'Right now, I'm feeling...', 'I think it started when...', 'I've been feeling this for...', 'My sleep has been...', 'Lately school/work/uni has been...'.

Ring a Crisis Line: If you feel are having difficulty talking to people you know, phone a crisis line.

Write Down your Feelings: Writing down your feelings, or keeping a journal, can be a great way of understanding your feelings and a particular situation. It can also help you think about alternative solutions to problems.

Set Small Goals: Sometimes people set goals which are almost unachievable and then feel worse when they cannot reach them. Try to set goals that are achievable for you, even if it's on a day by day, or hour by hour, basis. And remember to reward yourself too.

Exercise and Eating Well: Even though you might not feel like it, exercising and eating well can help when you are feeling down. Biological factors, as well as social factors, influence how you feel and how you react think about certain things and yourself. Exercise helps stimulate hormones, such as endorphins, which help you feel better about yourself and your life. If you haven't done a lot of exercise before, it might be a good idea to start doing something small a couple of times each week. A 15 minute walk or 2 or 3 laps of a pool would be a good place to start.

Avoid Drugs and Alcohol: Try not to use drugs or alcohol in the hopes of feeling better. The feeling is usually temporary and the after effects often make the problem worse.

Talk to a Psychologist or Psychiatrist: Psychiatrists are health workers who have special training in mental illnesses, including depression, schizophrenia, and suicide. Clinical psychologists have a similar training, but do not administer medication. You may be able to find them through your GP, your local community health centre, or through colleges of psychiatry and psychology. Some GPs and other allied health staff also do counselling. You may be able to obtain details through divisions of general practice in your area, and/or through your community health centre.

Why do People Want to End Their Lives?
Sometimes living can become very painful and problems can seem overwhelming. At some point many people think about suicide, but do not plan or act on it. However, for others the thought of suicide might begin to seem like a real alternative to a problem or situation that appears hopeless or as if there is no solution.

Situations that might contribute to a feeling of hopelessness include:
• Relationship break-ups
• Family problems
• Sexual, physical or mental abuse
• Drug or alcohol problems
• Mental illness, including schizophrenia, bipolar and depression
• Major loss and grief such as a death
• School, uni or work problems
• Unemployment or being unemployed for a long time
• Feeling like you don't belong anywhere
• Any problem that you can't see a solution for and is ongoing

Reachout

Suicide helpline (Australia)

Suicide crisis centre

suicide.com
Click to expand...
Thanks for all your help I guess I just needed to talk to some one that wasn't a doctor, thanks again
 
Suicide Prevention

Suicide can be prevented. While some suicides occur without any outward warning, most do not. 8 in 10 people who feel suicidal give definite warning signs that they plan to die by suicide, but those close to them are often unaware of the significance of these signals or are unsure of what to do about them. Most suicidal people also desperately want to live but are unable to find another way to cope with their thoughts and feelings.

Why would someone want to commit suicide?
There are many reasons why individuals engage in suicidal behaviors. Some reasons attributed to the appearance or increase in suicidal behaviors include:
• New and unfamiliar environment
• Difficulties adjusting to new demands and different work loads
• Lack of adequate social and coping skills
• Academic and social pressures
• Feelings of failure or decreased performance
• Sense of alienation and lack of social support
• Psychiatric disorder
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• Sudden or unexpected loss
• Chronic illness
However they do not need to be present for a person to be suicidal.
Warning Signs for Depression and/or Suicide
Any one of these symptoms does not necessarily mean the person is suicidal, but several of these symptoms may signal a need for help:

• Feelings of hopelessness or being trapped
• Impulsive, reckless behavior
• Uncontrollable anger or craving for revenge
• Increased alcohol or drug use
• No appetite or increased appetite
• No interest in activities
• Insomnia or increased sleeping
• Anxiety and agitation
• Social withdrawal
• Fatigue
• Inability to concentrate
• Dramatic mood swings, personality changes
• Sense that life has no purpose
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Depressed mood
• Thoughts of death or suicide
• Verbal suicide threats such as, “You’d be better off without me.” or “Maybe I won’t be around.”
• Expressions of hopelessness and helplessness
• Previous suicide attempts
• Daring or risk-taking behavior
• Giving away prized possessions
• Lack of interest in future plans
What To Do If You Think Someone Is Suicidal
• Trust your instincts that the person may be in trouble.
• Be a good friend. Be direct and honest. Talk with the person about your concerns. Communication needs to include LISTENING. Encourage getting help without sitting in judgment, acting shocked or suggesting that you have all the answers.
• Ask direct questions without being judgmental. Ask if they are thinking about making a suicide attempt. Determine if the person has a specific plan to carry out the suicide. The more detailed the plan, the greater the risk.
• ALL suicidal intentions are serious and must be acknowledged as such.
• Get professional help, even if the person resists.
• Do not leave the person alone.
• Do not swear to secrecy.
• Do not attempt to counsel the person yourself.
• Do not be skeptical or dismissive.


Where To Get Help
• Contact a mental health provider on your campus or in your community.
• Contact a member of the clergy, a medical professional, or law-enforcement agencies.
• Call telephone hotlines (Can be obtained from the telephone book, local Mental Health Associations, community centers, or United Way chapters) 1-800-TALK (1-800-273-8255), the National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
• Call your college’s emergency number.
• Call 911.

Commonly Believed Myths About Suicide
There are many commonly-held misconceptions about suicide. These myths of suicide often stand in the way of providing assistance for those who are at-risk.
People who talk about suicide don’t usually go through with it.

Talking about suicide can be a plea for help and can be a late sign in the progression toward a suicide attempt .Many people who talk about suicide usually have given definite warnings to friends and family of their intentions. Always take any comment about suicide seriously.

Suicidal people are fully intent on dying.

Most suicidal people are undecided about living or dying. This is called “suicidal ambivalence.” While part of them wants to live, death seems the only way out of their pain and suffering. They sometimes “gamble with death”, leaving up to others to save them.

Thinking about suicide is rare.
.
1 in 10 U.S. college students considers suicide.

Central Campus poll
Have you ever thought about killing yourself?
810 votes
72.2% Yes
More years of life are lost to suicide than to any other single cause except heart disease and cancer.
A person dies by suicide about every 18 minutes in the U.S. An attempt is estimated to be made once every minute.
Everyone who dies by suicide is depressed.

People with other mental illnesses can also be at risk.

You can’t stop someone who really wants to die by suicide.

Suicides CAN be prevented. People CAN be helped. Suicide is a permanent solution to what is usually a temporary problem. Immediate practical help such as staying with the person, encouraging them to talk, can avert the intention to attempt or complete suicide. Such immediate help is valuable at a time of crisis, but appropriate counseling will then be required.

Most people who attempted suicide have gotten it out of their systems and won’t try it again.
30% to 40% of persons who commit suicide have made a previous attempt. A suicide attempt is regarded as an indicator of further attempts. It is likely that the level of danger will increase with each further suicide attempt. However, do not wait until after a failed suicide attempt to seek professional help if signs are present.
Talking to someone about suicide will put the idea in his/her head.

Talking about suicide provides the opportunity for communication. Fears that are shared are more likely to diminish.
Suicidal people are always angry when someone intervenes and they will resent that person afterwards.
While it is common for people to be defensive and resist help at first, these behaviors are often barriers imposed to test how much people care and are prepared to help. For most people considering suicide, it is a relief to have someone genuinely care about them and to be able to share the emotional burden of their plight with another person. When questioned some time later, the vast majority express gratitude for the intervention.
Some people are always suicidal.
Nobody is suicidal at all times. The risk of suicide for any individual varies across time, as circumstances change. This is why it is important for regular assessments of the level of risk in individuals who are 'at-risk'.
People who threaten suicide are just seeking attention.
All suicide attempts must be treated as though the person has the intent to die. Do not dismiss a suicide attempt as simply being an attention-gaining device. The attention that they get may well save their lives.
Resources

www.hopeline.com
http://www.nmha.org/index.cfm?objec...855eab292-C7032C03-1372-4D20-C8052F2A52D8E08D
http://www.afsp.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewpage&page_id=050FEA9F-B064-4092-B1135C3A70DE1FDA
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
3615 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20016-3007
Phone Number: (202) 966-7300
Fax: (202) 966-2891
Email Address: [email protected]
Website URL: www.aacap.org
American Association of Suicidology
Phone Number: (202) 237-2280
Website URL: www.suicidology.org
Suicide Prevention Advocacy Network
Phone Number: 888 . 649-1366
Website URL: www.spanusa.org

YOU CAN SAVE A LIFE
 
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Adding some links:

TeenLineOnline - "operated by teens, for teens; No problem is too big or too small… Call us, post a question online, or chat with us live"

TeenCentral.net - another excellent site for teens by teens

HealthyPlace.com Depression Community

Youthline.us - Youth America Hotline ( 1-877-YOUTHLINE)

above links courtesy of

Depression Forums - A Depression & Mental Health Community Support Group

Take This Life Forums (broad base community)
 
Just a stupid question.
A friend got me thinking, if someone was depressed, couldnt they just go to their local pharmacy and grab a box of an antihistamine with SSRI properties and take this (at theraptuetic not recreational dosage) to help lift their mood until they could see a professional? Maybe even a different type of OTC all together.
I heard diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine and possibly promethazine could cause and antidepressant reaction. After all the first antidepressant did come from one of the above.
Ideas? For emergency situations where a professional isnt available...
 
In response to above post

^ There is never such a thing as a stupid question %) ,

In answer to your post, there are ALWAYS SUICIDE CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES available , see the many aforementioned online/telephone facilities

IMHO (Trained Health Professional) I do not think that using OTC medications is an appropriate means to address depressed individuals with potential or actual suicidal ideation / intent.

Please, anyone thinking about or feeling suicidal reach out to the helplines; MOST IMPORTANTLY seek treatment IMMEDIATELY at your local Hospital as they will be able to provide you with mental health support, not only in terms of therapeutic one to one interaction, but also in providing you THE MOST APPROPRIATE medications.

Additionally they will be able to provide referrals to the most relevant services in your area to address the underlying problems prompting suicidal thoughts, intents.

I hope this is of assistance

<3 Isis
 
customer said:
If/ When i have ever thought about ending the pain, I just always try to think about the loved ones that are around me and think of how much pain I would put them through. I know it's hard to think sometimes when I'm that low, that they would even miss me, cause I can be a "fuk up". But they would. And i always end my irrational thinking w/ "how can i be that selfish?"

Props to Sushi for being thoughtful and kind enuff to take the time and energy to make this thread, I hope it helps somebody!
Click to expand...
YES,Thanks to the Mods for that Thread,what also helps me when I'm "in the
mood" is except my Mum of course,remembering funerals of ODed friends
and the speed with what they were FORGOTTEN.3 months,sometimes less,
and its "oh,him,her,he's dead and did you see that show on t.v. yesterday
with that sexy girl",those things scare me.
spud68
 
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