FAQ
- How would I know if someone is feeling suicidal?
- What should you do if someone tells you they are thinking about suicide?
- Does depression increase the risk for suicide?
- Do all suicidal people have a mental illness?
- Where do I go for help if the suicidal person does not speak English?
- What resources is out there that can help me with a suicidal person?
- How do I learn more about suicide?
How would I know if someone is feeling suicidal?
Most people who consider suicide are not determined to die. They are undecided about whether to live or die. Warning signs may be their way of asking for help or revealing the seriousness of their situation. Depending on a person's individual response, risk factors that may contribute to a person feeling suicidal include significant changes in relationships, job, and financial situation. They may have also had a lost in a loved one, employment, or self esteem. Often suicidal people will give warning signs, consciously or unconsciously, indicating that they need help and often in the hope that they will be rescued.
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What should you do if someone tells you they are thinking about suicide?
If someone tells you they are thinking about suicide, you should take their distress seriously, listen non-judgmentally, and help them get to a professional for evaluation and treatment. People consider suicide when they are hopeless and unable to see alternative solutions to problems. Suicidal behavior is most often related to a mental disorder (depression) or to alcohol or other substance abuse. Suicidal behavior is also more likely to occur when people experience stressful events (major losses, incarceration). If someone is in imminent danger of harming himself or herself, do not leave the person alone. You may need to take emergency steps to get help, such as calling 911. When someone is in a suicidal crisis, it is important to limit access to firearms or other lethal means of committing suicide.
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Does depression increase the risk for suicide?
Although the majority of people who have depression do not die by suicide, having major depression does increase suicide risk compared to people without depression.
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Do all suicidal people have a mental illness?
Not all suicidal people have a mental illness, but many people who attempt suicide are often acutely distressed and are depressed to some extent. This depression may be either a reactive depression which is an entirely normal reaction to difficult circumstances, or may be an endogenous depression which is the result of a diagnosable mental illness with other underlying causes. It may also be a combination of the two. More...
Where do I go for help if the suicidal person does not speak English?
The National Suicide Prevention Hotline provides crisis intervention in more than 150 languages. 1- 800-273-8255(TALK) or visit http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
If it is an emergency, call 911 immediately.
What resources is out there that can help me with a suicidal person?
For more information about resources in the New York City area, please go to 'Resources and links'.
How do I learn more about suicide?
For more information about suicide prevention, please go to
'Suicide Prevention Education Awareness Kit'.