Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) — Suicide is a leading cause of death in children and adults, but detecting risk factors and telltale signs is not easy.
In the United States, about 46,000 people died by suicide in 2020, the equivalent of one death every 11 minutes, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Control.
In the world, 800,000 deaths from suicide are recorded annually, and in 2020, the number of suicide attempts reached 1.2 million.
Researchers haven’t yet figured out how to better predict who’s at risk of suicide and if and when the most vulnerable people will commit suicide, says Justin Becker, clinical director of the Suicide and Trauma Reduction Initiative for Veterans at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
“It’s very difficult,” Becker noted, adding that the difficulty is that “a lot of people deal with or face all kinds of stress, but they never think about[suicidal].”
In addition, the time frame between a person contemplating suicide and committing suicide is short, until they show signs of it, and can range from 5 to 15 minutes, Baker says.
“It’s an emotional imbalance and a cognitive error, because they can’t fix the situation, or think of a way out, so suicide becomes a viable option as a way to get rid of the pain they’re experiencing. They take action in a very short time,” he said.
However, there are some situations in which a person who is contemplating suicide, and has been planning it for a longer period of time, shows behavioral changes.
“If you notice this kind of change, it means that he is about to be in danger, and he made this decision to end his life,” he added.
And if you think that you or someone you know is in danger, feel free to enlist trained counselors to help overcome any signs you are experiencing or noticing in someone close to you.
Here are some of the most common behavioral, verbal and emotional signs and risk factors to watch out for, according to experts.
Behaviors to watch
Some people may appear normal in the weeks or days before a suicide attempt, while others change behaviors they weren’t familiar with before, explained Michael Roysky, clinical psychologist and senior director of the Newport Healthcare Center for Research and Innovation.
These behaviors can include practicing suicide, such as exhibiting unusual behaviors such as using pills or other deadly items, according to the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Other possible behavioral cues include giving up cherished personal belongings, spending either too long or too little sleep, withdrawing or isolating, showing anger or revenge, and acting anxious or irritable, according to Roysky, Becker, and the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Roysky noted that reckless driving may also be a sign to watch.
Such behavior may be a “test for themselves to see if they can actually commit suicide,” Becker said.
He added that “often people need to prepare themselves to reach the stage of actual suicide because there is a biological instinct that must be resisted, that is, to survive.”
About comments
Talking about wanting to die, by suicide or otherwise, Roysky said, is another warning sign that should always be taken seriously.
He added that such comments are, at times, merely an expression of discomfort, pain, boredom, or a desire for closeness and not a reflection of a real desire to die, but that does not mean that you should not monitor the author of these comments.
Some people may express that they feel they have no reason to live.
“If someone is struggling to find a reason to live, that person is at much greater risk than someone who is able to identify even a single reason for it,” Becker said.
Others might talk about feeling like they are a burden to those close to them, or that they don’t belong anywhere or anyone, Roysky said.
Such comments may include statements such as “I don’t need me to do this anymore”, or “I feel it would be better if I wasn’t here.”
Mood and other risk factors
Psychological factors, traumatic situations or genetics can increase the likelihood of contemplating or attempting suicide and dying from it, according to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
These risk factors cannot cause or predict a suicide attempt, but being aware of them is important.
“They don’t have a sense that the future is better, or they feel unable to imagine that they will no longer feel the pain they are experiencing now,” Rusky said.
- severe mood swings
This includes a person who is usually tense or depressed and then suddenly appears calm or euphoric, according to Roysky.
This person may have decided to attempt suicide without telling anyone, and is comfortable with it. Another indication of that feeling of euphoria after a bout of depression.
- Obsession with death or lethal means
Some people have more depressing artistic or musical interests than others, Rossky said, but if their interactions with those interests go beyond what’s normal for them, that’s worrisome.
- Experiences of abuse, neglect, or other trauma
- drug abuse problems
- Mental disorders such as schizophrenia, depression or anxiety, personality disorders, especially those associated with lack of treatment
- Severe physical ailments, including chronic pain.
Rossky pointed out that “especially if he suffers from a disease that is difficult to treat, and people can despair of it very much.”
- Family or personal history of suicide
“The biggest predictor of completed suicide is previous suicide attempts, and the reason is that you’re going to see an escalation in the extent of the risk, or the means the person uses to do so,” Rosky said.
- Loss of job or money
- Relationship problems or loss of loved ones
- Loss of interest in activities or school
- Prolonged stress caused by other reasons, such as harassment or bullying
- Easy access to lethal means
- Exposure to suicide or graphic or sensational novels about suicide.
- Insufficient social support or feeling isolated
What to do
If any of these signs align with you, Becker said, seek professional help, and talk to someone you can trust and feel supported through.
Roysky noted that psychotherapy and the consumption of certain psychiatric medications, such as antidepressants, can help.
If someone in your family shows signs that they may be at risk of suicide, “it’s not your responsibility to be able to predict the future,” but you can be supportive by asking them what’s going on with them.
When you reassure someone, use what experts call a person-centered narrative approach, Becker recommended.
For example, you could use this open-ended question: “Hey, I’ve noticed that life has been getting really rough in the last few days. Can you let me know?”
When the person responds, you can listen, express appreciation for sharing their story, and try to come up with solutions together, without counseling about it, Becker said.
If your loved one appears to be more at risk or on the verge of suicide, “you won’t have the time or the luxury to get their opinion,” seek medical attention or call 911.
When talking to someone with suicidal tendencies, you might want to tell them all the great reasons they’re holding on to staying alive, but that can actually make them feel more lonely, according to Roysky.
And if you’re concerned about someone living in your home, reduce the chances of a suicide attempt by restricting access to potentially deadly items such as firearms or pills.