Suicide Prevention Coordinator: Fern Seiden, Director of Staff and Student Wellness

Sometimes it is difficult to tell the difference between “normal” adolescent behavior and signs that are cause for concern, or action. Warning signs are changes in a person’s behaviors, feelings, and beliefs about oneself, which are unhealthy or out of character for that individual and place them at risk for suicide. Warning signs are likely to differ between individuals. Thus, there is no guaranteed way to recognize when an individual is suicidal. However, there are common traits that have been observed in individuals contemplating suicide.

It is helpful to compare these warning signs with risk factors in assessing the situation at hand. When in doubt, seek assistance/guidance from an informed professional such as family physician, school psychologist, social worker, school counselor, or mental health professional who can answer your questions and assist you with making a referral or getting connected with services.

• Threatening to hurt or kill oneself or talking about wanting to hurt or kill oneself

• Looking for ways to kill oneself by seeking access to firearms, available pills, or other means

• Talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide when these actions are out of the ordinary for the person

• Acting impulsively, recklessly or engaging in risky activities – seemingly without thinking or without thinking about consequences

• Increasing alcohol or drug use

• Feeling anxious or agitated, being unable to sleep, or sleeping all the time

• Feeling hopeless

• Feeling rage or uncontrolled anger or seeking revenge

• Withdrawing from friends, family, and society

• Experiencing dramatic mood changes

• Seeing no reason for living or having no sense of purpose in life

• Not being able to differentiate between reality and fantasy (i.e.: video game) when talking about death, violence or risk taking

Risk factors are characteristics statistically associated with a health risk (suicide). Risk factors do not predict imminent danger for a particular person, rather they are an indication that an individual may be a higher-than-normal risk. Although risk factors often include some of the observable behaviors listed above in the Warning Sign section, risk factors can also include other factors that would not necessarily be readily observable to someone who casually knows the individual. The process of screening often uncovers risk factors.

Anyone who is having serious or continuing thoughts of suicide, having impulses to self-harm, or making plans for suicide needs to be connected to support services.

There are several factors that have been associated with increased risk for suicide:

• Prior suicide attempts

• Family history of suicide

• History of mental health conditions such as severe depression, anxiety disorders and psychotic disorders

• Substance misuse

• Impulsivity or aggressiveness

• Serious family problems

• Breakups or other major relationship losses

• Access to means for self-harm (unsecured firearms, prescription medications, poisons)

• Social isolation

• Bullying

• History of traumatic experiences such as sexual violence or severe episodes of racial prejudice/violence, bullying

• Lack of access to mental health care

• Multiple exposures to suicide in one’s community or through unsafe coverage of suicide in the media

While the risk factors noted above might increase someone’s long term risk for suicide, there are several things that might indicate that the person’s thoughts of suicide are escalating or that there is more acute risk:

• Talking, joking or posting online about dying or life not being worth living

• Feelings of hopelessness, shame or of being a burden to others

• Extreme sadness, anger or irritability

• Extreme feelings of emotional pain

• Planning or researching ways to die

• Withdrawal from others, saying or posting “goodbye” messages, giving away possessions

• Erratic or disorganized behavior

• Changes in substance use

• Seeking means to self-harm

Protective factors are healthy behaviors and coping skills, and positive parts of a person’s home and school life. Protective factors help to create resiliency, or an ability to “bounce back” when setbacks are encountered. While they don’t remove the risk entirely, protective factors help to lower the risk of suicide and other self-harmful behaviors.

• Availability and access to quality physical and behavioral

• Positive connections to family, peers, and community

• Presence of healthy role models

• Development of coping mechanisms, safety plans, and self-care strategies

• The skills and ability to solve problems

• Access to affirming and welcoming groups and clubs, and cultural, spiritual, or faith-based beliefs that promote connections and help-seeking behaviors