Suicide occurs almost twice as often as murder. Each year, about 32,000 people in the United States die by suicide. In the United States:1
- Suicide is the third leading cause of death for people ages 15 to 24 and the second leading cause for people ages 25 to 34.
- A gun is the most common method of suicide.
- Suicide rates have increased for females ages 10 to 19 and males ages 15 to 19.
- Suicide rates have increased for adults older than 65. One suicide death occurs for every 4 suicide attempts.
- Women try suicide more often, but men are 4 times more likely to die from a suicide attempt.
Many people have fleeting thoughts of death. Fleeting thoughts of death are less of a problem and are much different from actively planning to commit suicide. Your risk of committing suicide is increased if you think about death and killing yourself often, or if you have made a suicide plan.
Most people who seriously consider suicide do not want to die. Rather, they see suicide as a solution to a problem and a way to end their pain. People who seriously consider suicide feel hopeless, helpless, and worthless. A person who feels hopeless believes that no one can help with a particular event or problem. A person who feels helpless is immobilized and unable to take steps to solve problems. A person who feels worthless is overwhelmed with a sense of personal failure.
Most people who seriously consider or attempt suicide have one or more of the following risks:
- A personal or family history of suicide attempts
- A family history of suicide attempts or completed suicide
- A personal or family history of severe anxiety, depression, or other mental health problem, such as bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness) or schizophrenia
- An alcohol or drug problem (substance abuse problem), such as alcoholism
The warning signs of suicide change with age.
- Warning signs of suicide in children and teens may include preoccupation with death or suicide or a recent breakup of a relationship.
- Warning signs of suicide in adults may include alcohol or substance abuse, recent job loss, or divorce.
- Warning signs of suicide in older adults may include the recent death of a partner or diagnosis of a life-limiting illness.
Anytime someone talks about suicide or about wanting to die or disappear, even in a joking manner, the conversation must be taken seriously. A suicide attempt—even if the attempt did not harm the person—also must be taken seriously. Don't be afraid to talk to someone you think may be considering suicide. There is no evidence that talking about suicide leads to suicidal thinking or suicide. Once you know the person's thoughts on the subject, you may be able to help prevent a suicide.
People who have suicidal thoughts may not seek help because they feel they cannot be helped. This usually is not the case. Many people with suicidal thoughts have medical conditions that can be successfully treated. People who have suicidal thoughts often have depression or substance abuse; both of these conditions can be treated. It is important to seek help when suicidal thoughts occur because medical treatment usually is successful in diminishing these thoughts.
The possibility of suicide is most serious when a person has a plan for committing suicide that includes:
- Having the means, such as weapons or medicines, available to commit suicide or do harm to another person.
- Having set a time and place to commit suicide.
- Thinking there is no other way to solve the problem or end the pain.
People who are considering suicide often are undecided about choosing life or death. With compassionate help, they may choose to live.
Review the Emergencies and Check Your Symptoms sections to determine if and when you need to see a health professional.
Emergencies
Do you have any of the following symptoms that require emergency treatment? Call 911 or other emergency services immediately.
- A plan, or knowing someone who has a plan, for committing suicide that includes all of the following:
- Having the means, such as weapons or medicines, available to commit suicide or do harm to another person
- Having set a time and place to commit suicide
- Thinking there is no other way to solve the problem or end the pain
Check Your Symptoms
If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.
Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.
Have you recently tried to commit suicide?
See significance of a recent suicide attempt if you need information to help you answer the question below.
Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.
Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to the following question.
Have you recently tried to commit suicide?
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If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
Are you considering suicide, but you do not have a plan?
See significance of considering suicide but not having a plan if you need information to help you answer the question below.
Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.
Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to the following question.
Are you considering suicide, but you do not have a plan?
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If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
Do you have frequent thoughts of suicide?
See significance of frequent thoughts of suicide if you need information to help you answer the question below.
Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.
Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to the following question.
Do you think about suicide much of the time?
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If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
Do you think that a friend or family member is considering suicide?
See significance of a friend or family member considering suicide if you need information to help you answer the question below.
Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.
Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to the following question.
Do you think that someone you know has made suicide plans?
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If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
Are you being treated for depression, but you are not getting better?
See significance of not getting better with treatment for depression if you need information to help you answer the questions below.
Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.
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Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to the following question.
Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.
Have your symptoms of depression gotten worse since starting treatment or medicine for depression?
Have your symptoms of depression not gotten better as expected?
Have your symptoms of depression not gotten better after starting treatment or medicine for depression, but you are not sure when you should start to feel better?
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
Other Symptoms to Watch For
Do you have any of the following symptoms?
- Feelings of depression or sadness: Go to the topic Feeling Depressed.
- An alcohol or drug (substance abuse) problem: Go to the topic Alcohol and Drug Problems.
- A sleep problem: Go to the topic Sleep Problems, Age 12 and Older.
If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.
Home Treatment
If you are thinking about suicide, talk to someone about your feelings. It is important to remember that there are people who are willing and able to talk with you about your suicidal thoughts. With proper treatment, most suicidal people can be helped to feel better about life.
People for you to consider talking with include:
- A family member, friend, or spiritual advisor.
- Your health professional, such as a doctor or counselor.
- Other mental health resources, such as a community mental health agency or employee assistance program.
- Your local suicide hotline or the national suicide hotline (1-800-SUICIDE or 1-800-273-TALK or 1-800-273-8255).
Tips for family and friends
You may be able to help someone who is considering suicide.
- If the suicide threat seems real, and the person has a specific suicide plan:
- Call 911 (or the police if 911 is not available) in order to prevent the person from carrying out the threat.
- Consider your own safety. If you are in a safe environment and the person will not harm you:
- Stay with the person, or ask someone you trust to stay with the person, until help arrives.
- Don't argue with the person or make statements like "It's not as bad as you think," and don't challenge the person by saying "You're not the type to commit suicide." Arguing with the person may only increase his or her feelings of being out of control of his or her life.
- Talk about the situation as openly as possible. Tell the person that you don't want him or her to die or to harm another person. Show understanding and compassion.
- If you think that someone you know has made a suicide plan, call your health professional.
- Your health professional may be able to help identify a mental health specialist and arrange an appointment for a person you think is considering suicide. An appointment with your health professional may not be needed.
- If you are not able to talk with your health professional, call your local suicide hotline or the national suicide hotline (1-800-SUICIDE or 1-800-273-TALK or 1-800-273-8255).
- Once a treatment plan has been developed, you may be able to assist the person get the help he or she needs.
Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment
Use the Check Your Symptoms section to evaluate your symptoms if any of the following symptoms occur before you see your health professional:
- The suicide threat becomes real.
- Symptoms become more severe or frequent.
Prevention
Suicide can be prevented. While some suicides occur without warning, most do not. You can learn to recognize the warning signs of suicide and take action when the signs are present. Take action to evaluate your suspicions if you think that someone you know is considering suicide.
- The warning signs of suicide change with age. Know the warning signs of suicide:
- Warning signs of suicide in children and teens, such as preoccupation with death or suicide or a recent breakup of a relationship
- Warning signs of suicide in adults, such as alcohol or substance abuse, recent job loss, or divorce
- Warning signs of suicide in older adults, such as the recent death of a partner or diagnosis of a life-limiting illness
- Take all warning signs seriously, even if the suicidal threat or attempt seems minor. Take any conversation about suicide seriously, even if the person mentions it in a joking manner.
- Don't be afraid to ask "What is the matter?" or bring up the subject of suicide. There is no evidence that talking about suicide leads to suicidal thinking or suicide.
- Be willing to listen. If a family member, friend, or coworker talks about suicide or wanting to die or disappear, even in a joking manner, the conversation must be taken seriously. Once you know the person's thoughts on the subject, you may be able to help prevent a suicide.
- Help the person make arrangements to see a doctor or mental health professional immediately.
- Since a suicidal person may feel he or she cannot be helped, you may have to take an active role in finding a health professional and getting the person to the appointment.
- If you are unfamiliar with mental health resources in your area, a doctor, counselor, community mental health agency, local suicide hotline, or the national suicide hotline (1-800-SUICIDE or 1-800-273-TALK or 1-800-273-8255). may be able to help identify a health professional.
- Make sure the person will have someone with him or her at all times until contact is made with a mental health professional.
- Help the person identify other potential sources of support from people who care about him or her, such as family, friends, or spiritual advisor.
- Follow up to find out how the person's treatment is going. A suicidal person may be reluctant to seek help and may not continue with treatment after the first visit with a health professional. Your support may help the person decide to continue treatment.
- Remove all guns from the home. Guns were used in about half of suicides committed in the United States during 2001.1 Studies have shown that suicide attempts are more likely to lead to death in homes that have a gun, even if the gun is kept unloaded and securely locked up.
- Discard all prescription and nonprescription medicines that are not currently being used.
Preparing For Your Appointment
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.
You can help your health professional diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:
- How long have you had suicidal thoughts?
- How often do you think about committing suicide?
- What was going on in your life when you first noticed the depressed or suicidal feelings?
- Have you ever had similar thoughts in the past? If so, did you seek and receive treatment?
- Have you attempted suicide in the past? If so, did you seek and receive treatment?
- Have you ever been diagnosed with a mental health problem, such as severe anxiety, depression, or schizophrenia?
- Has a family member or close friend ever attempted or committed suicide?
- Has anyone in your family ever been diagnosed with a mental health problem, such as depression or schizophrenia?
- Have you had a recent stressful event in your life?
- Do you keep guns in your home?
- Are you a regular or heavy user of alcohol or illegal drugs? Have you used alcohol or illegal drugs to reduce symptoms of depression?
- Are you taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine? If so, make a list of your medicines and take it with you.
- Are you taking a medicine to treat depression? What is the medicine? When did you start the medicine?
- Do you have any health risks?
Credits
| Author | Jan Nissl, RN, BS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Lisa S. Weinstock, MD - Psychiatry |
| Last Updated | December 8, 2008 |
