(Please note that our website is still currently under construction. New fact sheets will be added as they become available.)

Warning Signs for Suicide

If you are reading this page out of concern for someone, you've probably observed some of
these warning signs:

• an expression of hopelessness or of feeling trapped,
• increased alcohol or drug use,
• withdrawal from friends, family and others,
• dramatic mood changes, sudden rage, or impulsivity,
• a preoccupation with death,
• intense anxiety or agitation, particular if it is unusually severe,
• difficulty sleeping or sleeping constantly,
• sudden giving away of important possessions,
• hints about wanting to sleep forever or other remarks suggestive of suicide,
• purchase of firearms

People who are thinking of ending their lives often give hints of their emotional pain.
Sometimes, however, they work hard to hide their struggles from loved ones. Either way,
they are generally trying desperately to escape feelings that seem to them unbearable,
outside their control and, perhaps most importantly, feel likely to last forever. The
perception that the intensity of painful feelings will last forever is especially common among
teens and young adults.

People are often afraid to discuss their concerns with a loved one for fear that mentioning
the word "suicide" will cause it to happen This is not the case, but it can be difficult for
anyone — even a mental health professional — to raise the subject with a loved one. For
guidance on how to have such a discussion, please see How to help a loved one.

How common is suicide?

Approximately 32,000 Americans are known to end their lives every year. This is certainly
an underestimate as many car "accidents" and drug overdoses are intentional but not
reported as such. In 2003, suicide was the 11th leading cause of death in the United States
but the third cause of death among people ages 15-24.

For more information on suicide statistics and warning signs, visit websites for the
American Association of Suicidolgy (www.suicidology.org), the American Foundation for
Suicide Prevention (www.afsp.org), and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center
(www.sprc.org).

Links to other helpful resources