Suicide Prevention Get Education

Suicide Warning Signs

Although we can never be certain, there are some recognizable indicators that can lead us to suspect someone we know or care about is considering self-harm or suicide. It is important to be able to recognize and identify these signs when someone might be in danger and to know how to navigate these moments when they occur (National Institute of Mental Health).

Warning signs to pay attention to may include the following:

Behaviors

• Researching ways to die or making a clear plan to end a life
• Calling other people to say goodbye or giving away personal items
• Sudden increase in alcohol or drug use
• Extreme mood swings
• Sleeping for long amounts of time or rarely sleeping at all
• Isolation and distance from others
• Withdrawal from hobbies or activities
• Engaging in dangerous risk taking

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Feelings

• Feeling hopeless, or as if there is no reason to live
• Extreme depression, sadness or a sudden loss of interest in hobbies, activities, or social activities
• Sudden rage, anger, or irritability
• Feelings of pain that feel too heavy to bear or manage
• New or extreme embarrassment or humiliation
• Relief or sudden improvement in previously upsetting or stressful circumstances

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Talking About

• Feeling hopeless, or as if there is no reason to live
• Extreme depression, sadness or a sudden loss of interest in hobbies, activities, or social activities
• Sudden rage, anger, or irritability
• Feelings of pain that feel too heavy to bear or manage
• New or extreme embarrassment or humiliation
• Relief or sudden improvement in previously upsetting or stressful circumstances

Do not be afraid to ask directly about suicide or to share specific warning signs you've noticed. You will not put the idea into their head.

Listen carefully and acknowledge the challenging feelings they are facing. Remind them that you care for them and are there to listen, even if you do not fully understand what they are going through. Do not promise to keep anything secret, especially if they are a minor.

Ask them to share about their previous experiences - what has helped them cope or keep going when they have felt this way in the past?

Sit with them as they call if they express that they feel comfortable with you doing so. Help them to connect to family, community, and/or faith-based connections they know and trust.

Reduce access to lethal items such as firearms, medications, knives, ropes, or other toxic substances in the home or area as quickly as possible (via disposal or secure storage).

Maintain a connection - keep in touch and continue to follow up and check in.

Conversations like these can be difficult - always remember to take care of yourself. Practicing self care or utilizing grounding tips can be great protective tools to take care of yourself when caring for others. Self care practices can include time spent with loved ones, prayer/spirituality practices, exercise, quality rest, and more.

There are certain life experiences that increase the likelihood that an individual may make the decision to harm themselves. Commonly referred to as risk factors, these can occur at the individual level or within an individual's relationships, community, or greater society.

Conversely, protective factors are personal traits, skills, or experiences that help promote personal resilience and social connection, both of which encourage someone to seek help when in need or to consider alternate methods to self-harm. Like risk factors, protective factors can occur at the individual level or exist within personal relationships, family dynamics, or community settings.

Suicide prevention involves us all - families, teachers, pastors, colleagues, teammates, neighbors, and so many more. It requires a shared goal of looking out for each other and doing what we can to educate ourselves in case we or someone we love may be in need. Effective prevention also prioritizes opportunities to teach, uplift, and optimize physical, emotional, and mental well-being for all. This begins with normalizing conversations about mental health and wellbeing and ending stigma towards seeking help from others. It also includes prioritizing access to and distribution of the community resources that help meet basic needs and help achieve health equity.
Prevention strategies for individuals, families, communities, and institutions include:

• Strengthening community resources and economic supports available to secure food, housing, employment, and other basic needs.
• Prioritizing opportunities to build social cohesion, foster belonging, and promote connection for people of all ages and backgrounds.
• Increasing access to well-being and mental health preventative services across the lifespan while also including questions about mental health and wellbeing in health histories during physical health services.
• Educating others about safe storage of lethal means and reduce access in the home.
• Normalizing conversations in person and on social media about warning signs, coping skills, and places to find help when in need in schools, at home, and in community organizations.
• Utilizing and highlighting strengths-based programs that promote opportunities to build and strengthen protective factors and reduce risk factors.
• Providing free training opportunities about suicide crisis intervention and risk identification to community members.
• Following best practices and including community resources whenever there is media coverage about death or other traumatic events.

For these strategies to be implemented, there is a need for multiple sectors to work together:

The following resources are available to learn more about suicide and self-harm. Please read, use, and share them with others at home, at school, in the workplace, and in your community.

Developed by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health's Office of Violence Prevention in partnership with the California Department of Public Health, this toolkit was shaped directly by LA County youth to ensure its relevance and effectiveness. These resources are designed to support youth suicide prevention efforts across communities. The toolkit includes ready-to-use resources.

All materials highlight critical support information, including NeveraBother.org, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Line, and Teen Line contact details.

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