September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time to empower each of us in our community to prevent suicide. Did you know that for the last 5 years in California, suicide has been the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10 to 25? Locally, the 2023 San Mateo County Health and Quality of Life Survey revealed that 45% of county residents were experiencing difficulty with loneliness and isolation. Learn more about how to spot warning signs of suicide and how you can take steps to prevent it below. Remember, we can all be the one to take actions that can promote healing, help and give hope.
Warning Signs
According to 988 Lifeline, the following warning signs may help you determine if someone you care about is at risk for suicide. This is especially true ”if their behavior is new, has increased, or seems related to a painful event, loss or change” (988 Lifeline, 2024).
Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves
Looking for a way to kill themselves, like searching online or buying a gun
Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
Talking about being a burden to others
Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly
Sleeping too little or too much
Withdrawing or isolating themselves
Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
Extreme mood swings
5 Steps for Communicating with Someone in Crisis
Supported by evidence in the field of suicide prevention, 988 Lifeline has five action steps for communicating with someone in crisis:
1. Ask
Studies show that acknowledging and talking about suicide may reduce suicidal ideation. By asking “are you thinking about suicide?” in a direct, unbiased manner, you open the door to communication with the person you are concerned about. After asking this question, it is important to listen to what they have to say in a non-judgemental and supportive way. Be sure to listen to their reasons for being in such emotional pain, and help them focus on the reasons they share for wanting to stay alive. Remember, never promise to keep their thoughts of suicide a secret.
2. Be There
Just by being there, you can save the life of someone having suicidal thoughts. Whether you are there for them physically, by speaking to them on the phone, or in any other way you can provide support, you are increasing their connectedness to others and limiting their sense of isolation. Research has shown that connectedness is a key protective factor against suicide, hopelessness and psychological pain (Klonsky & May, 2014).
3. Help Keep Them Safe
This step is centered around putting time and distance between the person and highly lethal means (like firearms and medications) or their chosen method of suicide. Studies have shown that when access to such means is removed, suicide rates by that method decline. You can ask the following questions to help gather the information you need to ensure the person’s immediate safety:
Have they already done anything to try to kill themselves before talking with you?
Does the person experiencing thoughts of suicide know how they would kill themselves?
Do they have a specific, detailed plan?
What’s the timing for their plan?
What sort of access do they have to their planned method?
Once you know the answers to these questions, you can reach out to 988 Lifeline or 911 for help and next steps.
4. Help Them Connect
The person will need ongoing support, so it is important to help them create a safety net for times when they are in crisis. A safety net can include sources of support in their community, such as 988 Lifeline, a mental health professional, and other resources. You can also help them to develop a safety plan, which can help them identify when they are starting to experience severe suicidal thoughts, what they can do in those moments, and a list of individuals they can contact.
5. Follow Up
Studies have shown that the number of deaths by suicide were decreased when simple follow-up was conducted. Receiving a text or phone call to check-in can help the person increase their feelings of connectedness and being supported.
Helpful Resources
If you are someone you know is in crisis, please call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for help anytime, 24/7
References
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. (2024).How and Why the 5 Steps Can Help. Retrieved from https://www.bethe1to.com/bethe1to-steps-evidence/
Klonsky, E. David & May, Alexis M. (2015, June 29). The Three-Step Theory (3ST): A New Theory of Suicide Rooted in the “Ideation-to-Action” Framework. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy 2015 8:2, 114-129.
San Mateo County Health. (2024). Suicide Prevention Month San Mateo County. Retrieved from https://smcsuicideprevention.com/