Today, many organizations and people are working hard on suicide prevention, and there are more resources available than ever. No one should have to deal with suicidal thoughts alone.

Increase in suicide in the United States, 1999-2014. (2016, April 22). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db241.htm Reidenberg says media outlets tend to rely on stereotypes and clichés when reporting on suicide, but he cautions that suicide is never because of a breakup or a bad grade in school. Multiple factors figure into the decision for someone to take their own life. Reports that gloss over this nuance make it seem like a single bad event is enough to lead to suicide. If a friend or loved one is thinking about suicide, professional help is needed — even if suicide is not a danger right away. Here's what you can do: Avoid sensationalized headlines that focus on suicide or the method of death. Report the facts instead, and avoid using suicide as an attention-grabbing topic.Yet, there is so much stigma, so many misconceptions and unhelpful attitudes around suicide. What if we likened it to cancer? Like cancer, suicide does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, or socioeconomic status. There is no stereotypical face of it and no one single path that leads to it. For some, it is a sudden, intense phenomenon that takes life rapidly and with little warning. For others, it is a war waged internally for years. And, like with cancer, what if we did not blame the sufferers, even if their actions seemingly contributed in part to the outcome, and instead understood that they, tragically, lost their battle? Female 3: when it's too late. So if you think your kids acting different, if she seems like a different person, say something.

Don’t agree to keep someone’s thoughts of suicide secret, but don’t use a person’s feelings to humiliate them. Share their feelings with someone who is equipped to help. That person might be a parent, sibling, or loved one. It could also be a mental health expert. The right person varies. For example, a teacher worried about a suicidal teenager with abusive parents should consider talking to someone other than the teen’s parents. Get the treatment you need. If you don't treat the underlying cause, your suicidal thoughts are likely to return. You may feel embarrassed to seek treatment for mental health problems, but getting the right treatment for depression, substance misuse or another underlying problem will make you feel better about life — and help keep you safe. Kirkwood, A. (n.d.). Tips for talking to students about suicide [PDF]. Oregon Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign. WHO recognizes suicide as a public health priority. The first WHO world suicide report, Preventing suicide: a global imperative, published in 2014, aims to increase the awareness of the public health significance of suicide and suicide attempts and to make suicide prevention a high priority on the global public health agenda. It also aims to encourage and support countries to develop or strengthen comprehensive suicide prevention strategies in a multisectoral public health approach. Do risky or self-destructive things, such as using drugs or driving in a way that could cause harm.Suicidal intentions aren’t always obvious to the untrained eye, especially among those who endeavor to keep them hidden. However, there are many outward signals that someone is thinking of suicide, and becoming familiar with common signs, especially subtler ones, can help someone identify a loved one who may be at risk. Encourage the person to go to the emergency room or to a crisis mental health facility. If you can, offer to go with them so they feel less alone. If a friend does share their suicidal feelings with you, it’s usually best to listen and respond with open questions rather than advice or opinions. You don’t have to solve their problems; offer support and encourage them to talk if you can. The lifeline and 988. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. https://988lifeline.org/current-events/the-lifeline-and-988/. Accessed April 14, 2023.

Take talk of suicide seriously. Never suggest a person take their life in a moment of your own exasperation. Never suggest they are only seeking attention. How on earth could any self respecting journalist ever think that sensationalizing a suicide would be thought of as compelling writing.Gorton HC, et al. (2016). Non-psychotropicmedication and risk of suicide or attempted suicide: A systematic review. DOI: