How Do I Prevent Suicide ?
How Do I Prevent Suicide ?
Untreated mental illness (including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and others) is the cause for the vast majority of suicides
Some of the negative life experiences that may cause depression, and some other causes for depression, include :
The death of a loved one
A divorce, separation, or break up of a relationship
Losing custody of children, or feeling that a child custody decision is not fair
A serious loss, such as a loss of a job, house, or money
Make your alcoholic husband responsible for his actions. Every time you make excuses for him or shielded him, you have just paid for the next drink.
A serious illness
A terminal illness
A serious accident
Chronic physical pain
Intense emotional pain
Loss of hope
Being victimized (domestic violence, rape, assault, etc)
A loved one being victimized (child murder, child molestation, kidnapping, murder, rape, assault, etc.)
Physical abuse
Verbal abuse
Sexual abuse
Unresolved abuse (of any kind) from the past.
Feeling "trapped" in a situation perceived as negative
Feeling that things will never "get better"
Feeling helpless
Serious legal problems, such as criminal prosecution or incarceration
Feeling "taken advantage of."
Inability to deal with a perceived "humiliating" situation. Inability to deal with a perceived "failure." Alcohol abuse.
Drug abuse
A feeling of not being accepted by family, friends, or society
A horrible disappointment
Feeling like one has not lived up to his or her high expectations or those of another
Bullying. (Adults, as well as children, can be bullied.)
Low self-esteem
How to Help a Suicidal Person
Someone is in a hospital does not mean that he or she will not die by suicide. So, again, stay with the person as much as possible
Always take suicidal comments very seriously
While you are waiting for professional help to arrive (or if there is no emergency)
Listen attentively to everything that the person has to say
Comfort the person with words of encouragement
Let the person know that you are deeply concerned
If the person is at a high risk of suicide, do not leave him or her alone
Talk openly about suicide
If the person talks about using a firearm that he or she owns for suicide, call the police so they may remove the firearms
Don't be judgmental
Be careful of the statements that you make
Listen, listen, and listen. Be gentle, kind, and understanding
Let the person express emotion in the way that he or she wants
After the person has received help and is no longer critically suicidal, help the person make an appointment with a medical doctor and a therapy
Before you leave the person, make sure that he or she has received professional help from qualified mental health professionals or that the risk of suicide has dissipated
If someone tells you that you need to keep his or her suicidal intentions a secret, then you never can keep that "secret"
Follow up with the person on a regular basis to make sure that he or she is doing okay
When in doubt about what to do, call 100 immediately. Be safe