Suicide

Warning signs of suicide

Adapted from Symptoms and Danger Signs, SAVE: Suicide Awareness Voices of Education™

Warning signs of suicide

• talking about suicide
• statements about feeling worthless, hopeless, or helpless. Statements of feeling like a failure
• preoccupation with death
• sudden calm or happiness
• apathy or loss of interest in things one cares about
• visiting or calling those one cares about
• setting one's affairs (e.g., wills, estates) in order
• giving away personal possessions

A SUICIDAL PERSON NEEDS URGENT ATTENTION from a trained health professional such as a doctor or psychiatrist. If you believe someone you know is suicidal, it's important to recognize these warning signs and to know what to do.

Symptoms of major depression

Suicidal thoughts are very often linked to depression, although not all people with depression show all symptoms. Similarly, symptoms may not manifest to the same degree in all people. If a person exhibits four or more symptoms for a period of two weeks or longer, he or she may suffer from a depressive illness and should consult a doctor or psychiatrist. Although the symptoms described on this page generally characterize major depression, other disorders such as depression, bipolar depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and attention deficit disorder (ADD) have similar characteristics. These conditions can only be diagnosed by a doctor.

In adults

• persistent sad mood
• Substance abuse
• feelings of guilt, pessimism, worthlessless, hopelessness, and helplessness
• fatigue
• sexual problems: loss of interest in sex or decreased drive
• eating disturbances: loss/increase in appetite or compulsive overeating
• sleeping disturbances/insomnia
• loss of interest in ordinary activities
• irritability
• increased crying, anxiety, or panic attacks
• cognitive problems: difficulty concentrating, remembering things, or making decisions
• suicidal ideation: thoughts of suicide, suicide plans, or suicide attempts
• persistent physical problems or pains that don't respond to treatment

In infants

It's important to be able to differentiate between normal child development and possible signs of a depressive illness. If a child was born with a depressive illness, it may be hard to notice drastic changes in behavior or mood, since changes may well be part of that individual from the very beginning. Nevertheless, the following are signs to watch for:

• unresponsiveness when touched or talked to
• seeming inability to smile or cry
• frequent crying that cannot be soothed
• lack of motivation for games and play
• restlessness
• oversensitivity to noise or touch
• sleep disturbances
• eating disturbances
• digestion problems such as constipation or diarrhea

In children

In children, the symptoms of a depressive illness can often present as school avoidance, social avoidance, separation anxiety, attempts to run away, obsessive or compulsive behaviors, and ritualistic behaviors such as having to go to bed at the exact same time every day for fear that something bad might happen. Because depression weakens the body's immune system, chronic illnesses may also be present.

• disobedience
• bedwetting, constipation, or diarrhea
• disorganized speech or slowed speech
• slowed body movements
• inability to pay attention, remember things or make decisions
• easily distracted
• fluctuations in energy from lethargy to frenzy, with periods of normalcy
• eating disturbances
• sleep disturbances
• uncontrolled anger accompanied by aggressive or destructive behaviors (e.g., hitting self or others, kicking, head-banging, self-biting, hurting animals)
• easily frustrated
• frequent crying
• low self-esteem and/or extreme self-consciousness
• overly sensitive
• chronic worry and fear
• exhibits separation anxiety or panic attacks
• accident prone
• physical symptoms (e.g., dizziness, stomach aches, headaches, nailbiting, pulling out hair or eyelashes, aches in the arms and/or legs) that do not appear to be caused by any underlying medical condition
• suicidal talk or attempts

In adolescents

In teenagers, depressive illnesses and/or anxiety can be disguised as eating disorders (e.g. anorexia or bulimia), substance abuse, promiscuity, or high-risk behaviors. Signs of a major depression may include social isolation, attempts to run away, constant disobedience, delinquency/trouble with the law, assaults against others (physical or sexual), obnoxious behaviors, difficulty cultivating relationships, failure to care about appearance and/or hygiene, and an inability to establish or stick to goals.

• loss of interest in hobbies or other pleasurable activities
• preoccupation with death in books, music, movies, art
• Talking about death
• fascination with knives and/or weapons
• uncontrolled anger or outbursts of rage
• unhappiness, negativity, pessimism, and irritability
• physical symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, neck aches, stomach aches, pain in the arms or legs, and muscle tension which cannot be attributed to any underlying medical condition
• self-critical
• guilt
• low self-esteem
• inability to concentrate, remember things, or make decisions
• restlessness or anxiety
• slowed or hesitant speech and/or body movements
• lethargy, chronic fatigue
• eating disturbances/changes in appetite
• abnormal eating patterns
• noticeable weight gain/weight loss
• chronic worry and/or fear
• suicidal ideation: suicidal thoughts, plans, or attempts

In the elderly

Many people falsely assume that it's normal for elderly people to be depressed. Thinking this way can be dangerous: if you believe an elderly person suffers from a depressive illness, you should ensure that he or she undergoes a complete medical examination as soon as possible.

• alcoholism, often used to disguise an underlying depression
• frequent visits to the doctor without relief of symptoms; test results come back negative or inconclusive
• irritability
• mood swings and/or constant complaining
• loss of interest and inability to find pleasure in anything
• overall sadness, apathy, isolation
• slowed speech or body movements
• sleep disturbances and/or inability to sleep
• eating disturbances, loss of appetite
• blurred vision
• dizziness
• anxiety
• weight gain/weight loss
• inability to concentrate, remember things, or make decisions (these symptoms are often mistaken for dementia)
• physical symptoms such as aches and pains in the back, stomach, neck, arms, legs, head, or chest
• fatigue
• talk of worthlessness or of not being needed anymore
• excessive and/or unwarranted guilt

If you have reason to believe someone you know is suicidal, it's important to know what to do.