21 January 2015

PREVENTING SUICIDE

Suicide CAN be prevented and help IS available. Suicide affects both the person thinking about suicide and his or her friends and family. By recognizing the risk factors, warning signs for suicide, and knowing what to do if you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, the devastating effects of suicide can be reduced. The most important thing to remember is to GET HELP!

Facts about suicide

Suicide is the 3^rd leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-olds
1 in 25 suicide attempts succeed
Girls think about and attempt suicide about twice as often as boys, but boys are more likely than girls to die from suicide

A person is more at risk for committing suicide if he/she has these risk factors:

Mental disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder
Alcohol and drug use
Feelings of hopelessness
Inclination to act on impulse
Having tried to commit suicide before
A family history of suicide
Having lost a loved one
Lack of support from family and peers
Physical, emotional or sexual abuse
Having access to weapons

Warning signs for suicide:

Talking about suicide
Talking about hopelessness, feeling trapped, feeling unbearable pain, anger or desire for revenge
Talking about having no reason to live or being a burden to others
Looking for ways to commit suicide
Preparing for death
Depression and mood swings
Changes in sleeping or eating patterns
Changes in personality
Increasing risky behaviors
Increasing use of drugs and alcohol
Withdrawing socially and losing interest in friends
Losing interest in activities
Giving away valued possessions

What to do if you suspect someone you know is thinking about suicide

Talk openly and ask questions.
Asking someone if he or she is having thoughts about suicide is not easy. You can try by saying” I have noticed that you …………….. Have you ever thought about hurting or killing yourself?”

Listen to what they have to say, let them know that you care about them but do not promise to keep their suicidal thought a secret. You can suggest a suicide hotline or for them to chat with someone online. When these hotlines are called, a trained crisis worker will answer. The person in distress can share his or her problems with the worker. The worker can also talk about available mental health resources. All calls are free and confidential. A list of suicide hotlines and resources are listed below.

Program	Website and Chat	Phone Number
National Suicide Hotline	www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org	1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) More than 150 languages offered
Asian LifeNet Hotline	www.aaspe.net	1-877-990-8585 (Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, Fujianese)
San Francisco Suicide Prevention	www.sfsuicide.org	(415) 781-0500
National Hopeline network	hopeline.com	1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) 1-800-442-HOPE (1-800-442-4673)
Lifeline Crisis Chat	www.crisischat.org
I’m Alive	www.imalive.org
Youthline – Counseling for teens by teens	www.youthline.us	1-877-968-8454

Tell an adult you trust about the situation as soon as possible. They can assist you in getting the professional help that the person needs to deal with personal issues that have caused them to become suicidal.

If someone you know is at immediate risk for suicide, call 911 right away. Don’t leave the person alone. Wait with them until help arrives. Be aware that in emergency situations, hospitalization may be necessary.