Hope and Action: Preventing Suicide Together
- leah45446
- Sep 18
- 4 min read
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness month, and this month serves as a critical reminder that while conversations around suicide feel difficult, they are also incredibly important and can ultimately be life-saving. Today, the Embolden team wants to share some insights from our perspective and focus on how we, as a community, can better understand and prevent suicide.
It's essential to remember that mental health challenges, including suicidal thoughts, do not discriminate. They can affect anyone, regardless of age, background, or circumstance. As such, noticing the signs and taking action, no matter the person's history or current situation, can mean one less life lost to suicide.
Understanding the Warning Signs
One of the most powerful tools we have in suicide prevention is the ability to recognize warning signs. These aren't always obvious, and they can vary from person to person, but some common indicators can include:
Talking about wanting to die or kill themselves: This is a direct plea for help and should always be taken seriously.
Looking for a way to kill themselves: This might involve researching methods online or acquiring means.
Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live: Communicating a pervasive sense of despair.
Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain: Discussing feeling overwhelmed by their circumstances or emotions.
Talking about being a burden to others: Giving an indication they believe that others would be better off without them.
Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs: Showing a noticeable change in substance use as a way to cope or numb pain.
Acting anxious or agitated or behaving recklessly: Demonstrating a clear negative change in demeanor or behavior.
Sleeping too little or too much: Showing a significant change in sleep patterns.
Withdrawing or isolating themselves: Pulling away from friends, family, and activities they once enjoyed.
Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge: Displaying uncharacteristic anger or aggressive behavior.
Displaying extreme mood swings: Exhibiting rapid and intense shifts in mood.
If you notice any of these signs in someone you know, it's crucial to reach out. You don't need to be a therapist to make a difference; simply showing you care and are willing to listen is a powerful first step.
Taking Action: What You Can Do
Ask Directly: If you're concerned, don't be afraid to ask directly, "Are you thinking about suicide?" or "Have you been having thoughts of taking your own life?" It's a common misconception that asking about suicide puts the thought into someone's head, and in fact, it opens the door for them to talk about it if they were considering it already.
Listen Without Judgment: Offer a supportive ear. Let them know you're there for them and validate their feelings without trying to fix anything immediately or offer up solutions.
Connect to Resources:
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: A free, confidential resource available 24/7. You can call or text 988.
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741.
Hospitalization: Ensure they are in a safe environment, which might involve going to a crisis center or local emergency department for evaluation and support.
Mental Health Professionals: Once you know they are not in an active crisis, encourage them to seek help from a therapist, psychiatrist, or their primary care physician.
Follow Up: Continue to check in with the person, showing ongoing care and compassion for them. Depending on your relationship with the individual, this can also look like supporting them by restricting access to lethal means.
The Critical Role of Lethal Means Restriction
Beyond recognizing warning signs, one of the most effective and often overlooked strategies in suicide prevention is lethal means restriction. This refers to limiting access to methods that individuals might use to harm themselves during a moment of crisis.
Suicide attempts are often impulsive. When someone is in a severe emotional crisis, the easier and more readily available a lethal means is, the higher the risk of a fatal outcome. Creating a barrier (even a small one) can buy precious time for the intense emotional pain to subside, for someone to reach out for help, or for a loved one to intervene.
In our homes and communities, this can mean several things:
Firearms: According to Stanford Medicine, "Men who own handguns are eight times more likely to die of gun suicides than men who don't own handguns, and women who own handguns are 35 times more likely than women who don't." If there are firearms in the individual's home, it's essential to ensure they are stored safely and securely, unloaded, and locked, with ammunition stored separately and locked. Consider using gun locks or storing them outside the home with a trusted friend or at a shooting range.
Medications: Prescription and over-the-counter medications can be lethal when taken as an overdose. Store all medications in locked cabinets or containers, and dispose of unused or expired medications safely through local take-back programs or pharmacies.
Other Household Items: Be mindful of restricting access to other potentially lethal items, such as ropes, sharp objects, or chemicals, especially if you know someone in the home is struggling with thoughts of suicide.
It's important to have honest conversations about this with family members and friends. While it might feel uncomfortable or like an inconvenience, it's a conversation that can save a life. Further, it's not about taking away independence, but instead about adding a layer of safety during a vulnerable time.
This Suicide Prevention Awareness month, let's commit to fostering a community of hope and action. Let's talk openly about suicide, learn to recognize the signs, and take practical steps, like lethal means restriction, to protect those we care about. Your willingness to engage in these conversations and take these actions can truly make a difference.
Further Resources:
Everyone at Embolden is always here to help you navigate a crisis. We are honored to be a safe space and part of your team.
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