Generally speaking, no one is terribly eager to think about—or talk about—suicide. But many people struggle with suicidal thoughts, and those thoughts can lead to devastating outcomes. Recognizing the risk factors for suicide and knowing what warning signs to look for can position you to help someone who is struggling. That same knowledge can help you help yourself if you find that you are contemplating self-harm.
Before we go any further, however, we want to remind you that you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Calling local emergency services or heading to the nearest emergency room are also good options if someone (including you) is in immediate danger of attempting suicide.
Suicide Risk Factors
There are a range of situations, experiences, and more that make it more likely that someone might attempt to commit suicide. The list includes:
- Chronic Health Conditions: Those who are experiencing ongoing pain or severe health conditions are often also facing high levels of emotional distress that can make suicide more likely.
- Mental Health Conditions: The various kinds of depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other mental health disorders can lead to thoughts of suicide.
- Trauma: Those who have been abused or who have experienced other kinds of trauma often feel an ongoing sense of hopelessness or desperation. That, in turn, can put the person at risk of suicide.
- Substance Use Disorders: A person struggling with drugs or alcohol may come to feel as though suicide is the only way out of the situation in which they find themselves. This is particularly true if they try to give up substances on their own, only to be defeated by serious withdrawal symptoms that send them back to drugs or alcohol.
- Feelings of Loneliness or Isolation: Those without a healthy support system of friends and family often experience worse mental health. Long-term loneliness and isolation put a person at increased risk to consider suicide as an option.
- Family History: Suicidality can run in families. If a person’s family has a history of suicide or attempted suicide, that person may be at increased risk as well.
- Previous Suicide Attempts: A person’s direct history is even more telling than their family history. If a person has attempted suicide in the past, they are unfortunately likely to try again.
- Access to Lethal Means: A person who is considering suicide is at much greater risk if they have easy access to firearms, medications that can be misused, or other means of doing themselves harm. Limiting access to these means of harm can be a crucial step in preventing a tragedy.
Suicide Warning Signs
In addition to the risk factors listed above, there are warning signs you might notice that may indicate someone is considering harming themselves. Those signs include:
- Verbal Cues: This may well be the most obvious sign that someone is considering suicide. If a person expresses a desire to die, talks about being a burden to others, or reveals that they are feeling hopeless, it is essential that you take them seriously and intervene.
- Mood Swings: A person considering suicide may exhibit extreme mood swings. Those swings, which may manifest as a shift from deep despair to sudden calmness, may indicate tremendous internal struggles.
- Behavioral Changes: Sudden changes in behavior—including neglect of personal hygiene or the giving away of possessions—may reveal that a person is struggling and considering suicide.
- Isolation: A person in emotional distress may suddenly withdraw from friends, family, or social activities. This behavior might be easier to spot in an extrovert who is generally eager to be around others, but even introverted individuals can become more withdrawn in ways that indicate trouble.
- Sleep Disturbances: For some people, emotional distress leads to insomnia. For other people, that same distress can lead to excessive sleeping. In either case, these changes in a person’s sleep routines can be indicators of a problem.
- Increasingly Risky Behaviors: A person who has little regard for their own life may begin to behave in dangerous ways. That might include drug or alcohol use, reckless sexual behaviors, or taking physical risks they would normally avoid.
A Reminder: Help is Readily Available
If you feel someone is at risk of attempting to commit suicide, help is available—and it is essential that you take advantage of that help immediately.
Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call local emergency services or go to the nearest emergency room.
Peak View Behavioral Health is Here to Help
At Peak View Behavioral Health, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, we provide personalized care for a range of mental health challenges—including suicidality. We are committed to helping you achieve renewed balance in your life so that you can embrace hope once again. Available approaches to treatment include inpatient care, outpatient services, or virtual care. When you are ready to make a lasting change for the better, we are ready to help you reach your goals.
