With the recent news of celebrity suicides (death of Andrew Koenig (actor famous for role in Growing Pains, Michael Blosil (son of Marie Osmond), and Alexander McQueen (fashion designer)) once again remind us of the seriousness of the issue. Suicide statistics have reported more than 832,500 suicide attempts per year. Understanding suicide begins with understanding warning signs. Here are 5 signs of someone at risk for suicide.
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Negativity
Someone at risk for suicide generally looks towards the negative and feels that things are not going well. They may feel that life is not worth the pain. They have difficulty managing day-to-day activities.
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Denial
They may feel that their life is beyond their control. They may blame others or situations for how they feel.
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Disregarding self
They may disregard self-care and instead become involved in other people’s issue, rather than their own.
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Defensiveness
They may not receive the help of others because they believe that they are doing fine.
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Living in the past
They may be “stuck in the past.” This could be in the form of looking at pictures or listening to songs that make them sad, reading old love letters, etc.
If you or anyone you know may be at risk for suicide please call:
Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-877-727-4747
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK
Teen Line: 1-800-852-8336 (6 PM to 10 PM)
Trevor Line (LGBTQ): 1-866-488-7386
Department of Mental Health: 1-310-895-2326
