Suicide Prevention from the Mental Health Awareness Club

It is extremely important to speak up about suicide, to speak up about mental illness, or to seek out treatment for an individual who is in need. The Mental Health Awareness Club provided some suicide facts, myths, warning signs, action steps, and resources to keep in mind to all help prevent suicide.

TRIGGER WARNING: this article will cover suicide statistics, different examples, various warning signs, and more. Please do not continue if you may find this disturbing.

Introduction

Suicide is defined as death caused by self-directed injurious behavior with intent to die as a result of the behavior. On the other hand, suicidal ideation refers to thinking about, considering, or planning suicide. Not all suicidal ideations go through to a suicide attempt. Worldwide, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death. In the U.S., suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for ages 10-24.

Although suicide should be a topic discussed any month of the year, it is important to set aside a specific time to a time to share resources, stories, and educate others in an effort to shed light on this highly stigmatized topic. September was Suicide Prevention Month, a month to remind everyone that suicide is preventable and we should not be afraid to speak up about it. Many individuals don’t receive treatment because of this stigma. They feel that they can handle the problem on their own, believe the problem is not that severe, believe that treatment will not be effective, believing the problem will get better without treatment, etc. However, it is important to recognize that you are not weak for getting help or talking about it to a trusted individual.

Warning Signs

Almost everyone who has committed suicide will have given some signs or warnings, even though some of these signs might be subtle. It is important not to ignore any potential signs in your loved ones. A few include:

Verbal suicide threats
Expressions of hopelessness / helplessness
Talking about great guilt or shame
Talking about being a burden to others
Increasing use of alcohol or drugs
Daring or risk-taking behavior
Experiencing severe mental pain
Depression
Severe anxiety, panic attacks
Inability to sleep
Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
Lack of interest in future plans

The biggest factor to pay attention to is when an individual signifies making final arrangements. Especially at this point, one should be taking these signs very seriously, getting the required help they need (calling 911 or getting to a doctor). This includes:

Giving away prized or favorite possessions
Putting their affairs in order
Saying good-bye to family and friends
Making funeral arrangements

Myths

Myth 1: Suicide only affects individuals with a mental health condition.

This is FALSE. Many individuals with mental illness are not affected by suicidal thoughts. In addition, not all people who attempt or die by suicide have mental illness. There can be a lot of other factors, such as relationship problems, criminal/legal matters, loss of home, death of a loved one, trauma, sexual abuse, rejection, etc.

Myth 2: Once an individual is suicidal, he or she will always remain suicidal.

This is FALSE. Active suicidal ideation is often short-term and situation-specific. Studies have shown that approximately 54% of individuals who have died by suicide did not have a diagnosable mental health disorder. For those with mental illness, the proper treatment can help to reduce symptoms. The act of suicide is often an attempt to control deep, painful emotions and thoughts an individual is experiencing. Once these thoughts dissipate, so will the suicidal ideation. While suicidal thoughts can return, they are not permanent

Myth 3: Most suicides happen suddenly without warning.

This is FALSE. Warning signs, verbally or behaviorally, precede most suicides. Therefore, it’s important to learn and understand the warnings signs associated with suicide. Many individuals who are suicidal may only show warning signs to those closest to them. These loved ones may not recognize what’s going on, which is how it may seem like the suicide was sudden or without warning. Refer to the list above for potential warning signs.

Myth 4: People who die by suicide are selfish and take the easy way out.

This is FALSE. People do not die by suicide because they do not want to live, people die by suicide because they want to end their suffering. They feel hopeless, and this is not by choice. They are not simply, “thinking of themselves,” but rather they are going through a very serious mental health symptom due to either mental illness or a difficult life situation.

Myth 5: Talking about suicide will lead to and encourage suicide.

This is FALSE. There is a widespread stigma associated with suicide and as a result, many people are afraid to speak about it. Talking about suicide not only reduces the stigma, but also allows individuals to seek help, rethink their opinions and share their story with others.

Action Steps

1) Acknowledge and ask. If you recognize warning signs in your friend or loved one, it is very important to take them seriously. The majority of people who die by suicide gave some indication of their intention to those close to them. From research, acknowledging and talking about suicide usually reduces rather than increases suicidal ideation. Individuals are more likely to feel less depressed, less suicidal, less overwhelmed, and more hopeful after speaking to someone who listens without judgment.

2) Care. There is no perfect script for talking to someone about suicide. It is most important to show the person you care by being a good listener and offering to support or accompany them in finding help. However, here are some things to avoid:

Trying to cheer the person up
Telling the person to snap out of it
Assuming the situation will take care of itself
Being sworn to secrecy
Leaving the person alone (if the person is acting in a threatening way, leave and call 911)

3) Treatment. If your friend or loved one is exhibiting any serious suicidal warning signs, do get professional help immediately. Take precautions to consider your own personal safety; it is important not to put yourself in harm’s way.

Overall, we should not be afraid to speak up about suicide, to speak up about mental illness or to seek out treatment for an individual who is in need. Eliminating the stigma starts by understanding why suicide occurs and advocating for mental health awareness within our communities. There are suicide hotlines, mental health support groups, online community resources and many mental health professionals who can help any individual who is struggling with unhealthy thoughts and emotions.

Note: This article is written as a summary from the Suicide Prevention Monthly Mental Health Talk. Mental Health Talks are a monthly series organized by the Mental Health Awareness Club, the Junior Representatives, and OHS Counseling to start a more open conversation about mental health. Stay updated for dates of future Talks or contact rachelhu@ohs.stanford.edu, jeevet@ohs.stanford.edu, or lexitabacu@ohs.stanford.edu for more inquiries!

Resources

Hotlines:

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources. Available at 800-273-8255.
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 24/7 resources & support for anyone in the U.S. affected by intimate partner violence, or their loved ones. Available at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE).
Trevor Lifeline: the only national 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention lifeline for LGBTQ young people under 25, available at 1-866-488-7386
Trans Lifeline: a trans-led organization that connects trans people to the community, support, and resources they need to survive and thrive, available at 877-565-8860
Crisis Text Line: free, 24/7 support for those in crisis. Text START to 741-741
Rape Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN): the nation's largest organization fighting sexual violence, RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice. Call 800-656-HOPE (4673)

OHS Counseling: The Counseling Department provides students with a broad range of services designed to ensure that their academic, emotional and social developmental needs are met. Among the services we provide are:

One-on-one short-term confidential counseling
Regular student check-ins on course workload using a fading scaffold approach
Consultation with parents, instructors, and other educators
Classes, workshops, and counseling groups on topics of importance to our students and families
Assistance with the development of Student Support Plans
Intervention and advocacy at a systemic level
Assistance with seeking accommodations
Referral to in-house peer-supported programs such as tutoring
Referrals to outside support services and community resources

Find your counselor here: https://familygateway.ohs.stanford.edu/student-services-gateway or email ohscounseling@stanford.edu.

Citations

Mental Health Awareness ClubRachel Hu '22October 21, 2020Comment