Overview
Suicide prevention is a set of actions that help lower the risk that a person will harm themselves or die by suicide. It includes noticing warning signs, listening without judgment, making the environment safer, and getting urgent support when needed. Suicide risk can affect people of any age, gender, culture, or background.
Key Symptoms
Warning signs can include talking or writing about death, wanting to die, or feeling like a burden. Other signs include hopelessness, severe emotional pain, major mood changes, increased use of alcohol or drugs, giving away belongings, withdrawing from others, or saying goodbye. Some people show agitation, recklessness, sleep changes, panic, rage, or feeling trapped. A person may also search for ways to harm themselves or make a plan.
Causes and Risk Factors
Suicidal thoughts and behaviors usually happen because of a mix of factors rather than one single cause. Risk can rise with depression and other mental health conditions, substance use, trauma, abuse, chronic pain, serious illness, grief, relationship problems, money or legal stress, discrimination, social isolation, or a past suicide attempt. Access to firearms, pesticides, large amounts of medicines, or other lethal means can increase immediate danger.
Who Is Affected
Anyone can be affected by suicidal thoughts, including children, teenagers, adults, and older adults. Risk may be higher during times of major life stress or after a loss, crisis, or traumatic event. Families, friends, coworkers, and communities are also deeply affected when someone is at risk.
Prevention
Prevention includes early support for mental health problems, reducing isolation, and helping people build strong social connections. If someone may be at risk, ask directly if they are thinking about suicide, stay with them if danger seems immediate, and connect them to crisis or emergency services. Locking away or removing firearms, medicines, sharp objects, ropes, pesticides, or other lethal means can reduce the chance of a fatal act during a crisis.
Treatment Categories
Care depends on the person's level of risk and may include crisis intervention, emergency care, mental health assessment, counseling or psychotherapy, treatment for substance use, and ongoing support plans. Some people may need hospital-based care if the risk is high or they cannot stay safe. Family or trusted supporters may be involved when appropriate to help with safety and follow-up.
Living With It
If you have had suicidal thoughts, it can help to identify personal warning signs, reasons to stay alive, supportive people, and places where you feel safer. Keep crisis contacts easy to find and avoid being alone during high-risk moments if possible. Regular follow-up with a healthcare or mental health professional can help address underlying problems and lower future risk.
When to Seek Medical Care
Seek medical or mental health care as soon as possible if you or someone else has suicidal thoughts, talks about death, seems hopeless, or shows major behavior changes. Reach out sooner if there has been a past attempt, self-harm, substance misuse, or access to lethal means. Even if the person says they are not sure they would act, professional evaluation is important.
When It May Be an Emergency
This is an emergency if someone has a suicide plan, has the means to carry it out, has made an attempt, is preparing to say goodbye, or cannot promise to stay safe. It is also urgent if they are severely intoxicated, hearing commands to harm themselves, extremely agitated, or difficult to wake. Call emergency services now or go to the nearest emergency department, and do not leave the person alone if immediate danger is present.