FAQs

What are the warning signs of suicide?

According to the federal Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the following are some of the warning signs that someone may be at risk for attempting suicide.

• Talking about wanting to die or wanting to kill themselves
• Talking about feeling empty or hopeless or having no reason to live
• Talking about feeling trapped or feeling there are no solutions to their problems
• Feeling unbearable emotional or physical pain
• Talking about being a burden to others
• Withdrawing from family and friends
• Giving away important possessions
• Saying goodbye to friends and family
• Putting affairs in order such as making a will
• Taking great risks that could lead to death, such as driving extremely fast
• Talking or thinking about death often

Other serious warning signs include extreme mood swings, making a plan or looking for ways to commit suicide (e.g. searching lethal methods online, stockpiling pills, buying a gun), using alcohol or drugs more often, talking about extreme feelings of shame or guilt, changes in sleeping/eating habits, acting anxious or agitated, expressing rage or feelings of revenge. According to the World Health Organization, a prior suicide attempt is the single most important risk factor for suicide.

What should you do if someone tells you they are thinking about suicide?

If someone tells you they are thinking about suicide, be a caring listener. This does not mean you have to have the solutions or the answers. Reassure them they are loved and cared about by many. Help them get to a professional for evaluation and treatment. If someone is in immediate danger of harming himself or herself, do not leave the person alone. You may need to take emergency steps to get help, such as calling 911. It is also very important to limit the person’s access to firearms, prescription drugs, or other lethal means of committing suicide. If you or a person you know are in crisis, call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The service is available to anyone. All calls are confidential. http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

What are the most common methods of suicide?

According to the World Health Organization, ingestion of pesticides, hanging and use of firearms are among the most common methods of suicide globally. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, firearms account for more than 50% of all suicides. The majority of all firearm suicides are completed by white males. For women, the most common method of suicide is self-poisoning. The presence of a firearm in the home is an additional risk factor for suicide. If someone is identified as a suicide risk, it is important to limit their access to firearms, prescription drugs, or other lethal means of committing suicide.

What populations are most at risk for suicide?

Suicide is a significant and growing public health concern in the United States. Specific subsets of the population, such as first responders, military members, and veterans, have higher rates of suicide than others. Factors such as mental illness and substance use also contribute to an individual’s risk of suicide. Nationally, suicide is the second leading cause of death for those aged 10 through 34, the 4th leading cause of death for people aged 35-44, and the 8th leading cause of death for those aged 55-64. Suicide death rates in New Hampshire are approximately 35% higher than the national rate (19.27 per 100,000 in NH compared to 14.21 per 100,000 nationally). The Granite State ranks 12th in the country for suicide deaths, and while suicide is the 8th leading cause of death across all Granite State residents, it is the 2nd leading cause of death for those aged 10-44. Download the New Hampshire Suicide Prevention Plan 2021-2024

Does asking someone about suicide increase the chances they may commit suicide?

No. Studies have shown that asking people about suicidal thoughts and behaviors does not cause or increase such thoughts. The ASQ (Ask Suicide-Screening Questions) is a set of four screening questions that takes 20 seconds to administer. The Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) Toolkit, a free resource for use in medical settings (emergency department, inpatient medical/surgical units, outpatient clinics/primary care), can help providers successfully identify individuals at risk for suicide. The NIMH has now demonstrated that the ASQ is also a valid screening tool for youth as well as adult medical patients. By enabling early identification and assessment of medical patients at high risk for suicide, the ASQ toolkit can play a key role in suicide prevention. View the National Institute of Mental Health’s Suicide Prevention Tool Kit

Why do people attempt or commit suicide?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the majority of people who take their lives are suffering with some form of mental illness and/or substance misuse problem. The most common underlying disorder is depression.

Is it possible to help prevent suicide?

Yes. There are a number of measures that can be taken to prevent suicide and suicide attempts. According to the World Health Organization, the following are effective evidence-based interventions:

• Limit access to the means of suicide (e.g. pesticides, firearms, prescription medications etc.)
• Raise awareness of the suicide epidemic, working with the media and special interest groups to spread the word on the seriousness of the problem and what can be done about it
• Work with adolescents on socio-emotional life skills
• Early identification of suicide risk, assessment of and follow-up with those exhibiting suicidal behaviors
  

Can the risk for suicide be inherited?

While suicidal behavior is not genetically inherited, the risk factors for suicide can be inherited. Exposure to suicide does not alone put someone at greater risk for suicide. However, when combined with a number of other risk factors, exposure to suicide can increase someone’s likelihood to consider a suicide attempt. Major psychiatric illnesses including Bipolar Disorder, major depression, schizophrenia, alcoholism and substance abuse, and certain personality disorders, which run in families, could increase the risk for suicidal behavior. Suicidal behavior is not inevitable for individuals with this family history, but those people who may be more vulnerable should take steps to reduce their risk, such as getting evaluation and treatment at the first sign of mental illness.

What does “suicide contagion” mean, and what can be done to prevent it?

Suicide contagion is the exposure to suicidal behaviors within one’s family, peer group, or through media reports of suicide. It can result in an increase in suicides and related behaviors. Direct and indirect exposure to suicidal behavior has been shown to precede an increase in suicidal behavior in persons at risk for suicide, especially in adolescents and young adults. The risk for suicide contagion as a result of media reporting can be minimized by factual and concise media reports of suicide.

How can I learn more about suicide and suicide prevention?

The NH Coalition for Suicide Prevention has a list of resources. September is National Suicide Prevention Month and the NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health) will be sponsoring a Livestream Event on Wed. Sept. 22, 2021, from 3:30-4:00 p.m. entitled “Suicide Prevention During COVID” and will focus on the unemployed, youth, and other population subgroups that may experience elevated risk. Register here.

Another excellent resource for information on suicide prevention is the New Hampshire State Suicide Prevention Council.