Learn the Top 9 Suicide Warning Signs

Aug 17, 2021

Every suicide is a tragedy. Questions go unanswered. Loved ones are left hurting.

Sadly, there are nearly 50,000 suicides in the US each year and nearly 1.5 million attempts.

Statistically, 70% of suicides are completed by white males, but more women attempt suicide than men. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among young adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WISQARS Leading Causes of Death Reports, in 2019 suicide was the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 34.

While some suicides are out of the blue, very often, there are warning signs. Unfortunately, these warning signs often go unnoticed or are ignored.

Be aware of these common suicide warning signs, and you may save a life:

Feeling hopeless. Hopelessness is a serious challenge. If someone is miserable and doesn’t believe that there’s any hope of a better existence, suicide can be a logical conclusion for them.

One possible cure for hopelessness is to prove that the ability to alter the future exists.

For example, set one small goal. It might be to do five pushups or to lose two pounds. Accomplishing a small goal is a way to prove that the future is alterable.

Lack of interest in activities that were once pleasurable. One of the primary signs of depression is a lack of enjoyment in previously enjoyable activities. For instance, if you, or someone you know, has always loved to watch baseball, it would be unusual to suddenly lose interest in that activity.

Talking about suicide. Many people that are considering suicide mention it at some point. If you know someone that seems interested in the topic of suicide, that’s potentially a serious warning sign.

They might ask you how you’d commit suicide.
They might mention a suicide in the news.
They might ask your opinion of people that commit suicide.

Intentional isolation. People that drastically reduce their social interaction are often also contemplating suicide.

When people are miserable, they tend to isolate themselves from everyone else in the world. If your ordinarily sociable friend rarely makes an appearance, there could be an issue.

Giving away possessions. People considering suicide can still be concerned about who receives their possessions when the smoke clears. So they often start giving away their tools, furniture, pets, and anything else of value.

Depression. Depression is a primary warning sign of suicide.

Remember that depression is treatable. There’s no reason to suffer passively from depression when there are so many treatment options available.

Strong feelings of guilt or shame. People that commit suicide are frequently overwhelmed with feelings of guilt or shame. The best way to deal with guilt and shame is through therapy.

Fortunately, there are many free resources available for this issue as well. An online search will turn up several good possibilities.

Saying goodbye to friends and family. Committing suicide is like taking a very long trip that you never come back from. Most of us wouldn’t leave on a long trip without saying goodbye.

If it feels like someone is giving you a farewell for no apparent reason, that could be a warning sign of an impending suicide.

Stating that others would be better off without them. Many people consider suicide but decide against it because of the harm they realize it could cause others. When someone believes that others would actually benefit from their death, that’s a serious warning sign that they intend to harm themselves.

Be on the lookout for these warning signs. Given the prevalence of suicide attempts in this country, you may know someone that will attempt suicide. You’ve likely known others that have considered it, whether you realize it or not.

Suicide is a significant cause of death. However, if you know the warning signs, you might be able to stop yourself, or someone you know, from ending their life needlessly.

For more information on suicide prevention and how you can become a suicide gatekeeper, check out our QPR Suicide Gatekeeper training.