Suicide Prevention: How to Spot the Warning Signs and Save a Life!

Dr. Sturgis discussed reasons why people commit suicide, risk factors for suicide, warning signs, and how care-givers can detect and help those at risk. Quite often there is the opportunity to save a life because there are suicidal people all around us in our everyday lives at work, church and in our communities.


By Dr. Ron Sturgis, PhD Psychology: Northcentral University

REASONS PEOPLE CONSIDER SUICIDE:

  • Multiple negative life issues
  • The impulsivity of youth
  • Chronic Shame: death before dishonor
  • Nothing to live for or no purpose/motivation to live
  • Severe Depression
  • Isolation
  • Chronic Physical Pain
  • Terminal Illness
  • Loss of a Love Relationship

COMMON SUICIDE RISK FACTORS:

  • Mental Illness, alcoholism, or drug use
  • Previous suicide attempts; family history of suicide or history of trauma or abuse
  • Terminal illness or chronic pain (as mentioned above)
  • A recent loss or stressful life event: divorce, loss of job, family member passes away
  • Social isolation and loneliness

SUICIDE WARNING SIGNS:

  • Talking about Suicide
  • Preoccupation with death
  • Seeking out lethal means
  • No hope for the future
  • Self-loathing; self-hatred
  • Getting end of life affairs in order
  • Saying Goodbye
  • Withdrawing from others
  • Self-destructive behavior

TO HELP A SUICIDAL PERSON:

  • Ask, care, treat/Reach, throw a life line, GO!
  • Ask if the person is thinking about suicide
  • Get the person professional help/Follow up on their treatment
  • Do not leave a suicidal person alone
  • Be Proactive
  • Encourage positive life changes
  • Make a safety plan (if they start feeling down, they have a list of people to call)

WHEN TALKING TO A SUICIDAL PERSON:

  • DO be yourself and let the person know you care
  • BE an active listener, be sympathetic, offer hope, take the person seriously
  • DON’T argue with the suicidal person, act shocked, promise confidentiality, give advice
    or try to fix them

PROTECTIVE FACTORS:

  • Being in community
  • Meaningful relationships
  • Participate in activities that bring meaning to life
  • Having hobbies and interests
  • Pursue spiritual growth: belong to a spiritual community
  • Be a positive thinker-learned optimism
  • Volunteer
  • Physical Exercise

If a suicide attempt seems imminent, call a local crisis center,
DIAL 911, or take the person to an emergency room. Remove guns,
knives, and other potentially lethal objects from the vicinity but do
not, under any circumstances, leave a suicidal person alone.

SUICIDE HELP LINE: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

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