Has your loved one lately mentioned committing suicide? It is essential to take any warning signs seriously because people don’t use suicide as an idle threat to seek attention. But what are the warning signs, when should you take suicide threats seriously, and what can you do?
What is a Suicide Threat?
Suicidal threats can be communicated verbally, emotionally, or psychologically. Your loved one may show few if not all possible signs of suicidal ideation. Some of these may include:
1. Verbal Suicide Threats
Your loved one may talk about their suicidal thoughts or express their feelings through:
Constantly bringing up suicide topics
Talking about wanting to die
Mentioning a particular suicide plan
Expressing their feelings of being a burden to people around them
Expressing thoughts of being entrapped
Discussing constant suffering and depression
2. Behaviors Accompanied By Suicide Threats
Your loved one may accompany their suicide threats with some behaviors such as:
Donating their belongings
Changing their sleeping and eating patterns
Change in their personality and not caring about their appearance
Self-harming such as reckless driving or engaging in reckless behaviors
Researching methods of committing suicide
Disregarding hobbies or activities they previously enjoyed
Retreating from regular daily routines
Alienation from others
Creating a suicide note
Contacting family and friends to bid them farewell or express their love or rage
3. Emotional Indicators
Suicide threats may be accompanied by mood changes such as:
Pessimism, hopelessness, and lack of enthusiasm
Anxiety, rage, and irritability
Depression
Feeling degraded or humiliated
Mood swings accompanied by sadness
Psychosis symptoms like a sense of disconnection from reality, hallucination, or belief in things that don’t exist
A strange mood improvement such as calmness. This sudden adjustment could result in them deciding to die and feeling relieved.
The first thing you can do to help a loved one with suicidal thoughts is to listen and be emphatic without judging. Other steps you may take include:
Sometimes, all that is needed is familial support–e.g. lending an ear, providing comfort, or as pictured above, a hug.
Assisting them in seeking mental health treatment. Also, accompany them to appointments if they allow you.
Taking away any harmful items such as guns and other lethal weapons from them
Avoid passing judgment or downplaying the seriousness of their situation.
Pay attention to their feelings instead of your reactions to their issue.
Keep in touch with the person regularly rather than waiting for them to contact you.
Ensure the time they spend alone is very minimal.
Reach out to other trusted persons who may be able to help. Ensure the persons you contact will not bring added stress or blame them for their actions.
Work with them in creating a safety plan they could use when they have suicidal thoughts. An example may include calling someone they trust.
Suicidal thoughts may be overwhelming. However, the crisis can be temporary and treatable. Sometimes all your loved one wants is for you to show them you care and are ready to listen to them. Give them the time and assurance that all will be well. Additionally, give them your moral support and encourage them to seek help from a health professional.
How We Help
We, the crews at SuicideCleanup.com, are immediately available to all families or property owners in need of restoring their property or building after a tragic trauma. The aftermath is shocking, painful, and the family or untrained personnel should never attempt to clean it themselves. Call us. We offer a quick, discreet, and cost-effective solutions whether the tragedy happened in a home, business, or vehicle.
We hope you don’t need our services but if you do, know we’re always available to assist you, 24/7 with crews all over the nation. Even if you don’t need our assistance, we hope you consider sharing this article on social media to reach even more in need.