In November 2023, my mum completed suicide. In my reading one of the things that has come up often is the risk factors and warning signs of someone at risk of suicide.
In the interest of impact the list has been summarised.
- Previous suicide attempts
- Family history of suicide
- Conflicts
- Recent loss
- Illness and chronic pain
- Trauma
- Social Isolation
- Financial problems
- Shift in behaviour
- Risk-taking
- Changes in substance use
- Withdrawal
- Hopelessness and helplessness
- Feeling like a burden
- Anxiety
- Preoccupation with death
- Talking about dying by suicide
- Preparing for death
- Sudden lifting of mood
THIS LIST IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE
Below the list has been expanded to provide more detail and examples.
Events & Circumstances:
Previous suicide attempts
Family history of suicide
Conflicts
Recent meaningful loss
Examples:
- Loss of loved one
- Loss of job
- Loss of relationship
Illness and chronic pain
Examples:
- Mental health conditions
- Barriers to support or care and stigma
Trauma
Social Isolation
Financial Problems
Behaviours:
Shift in behaviour
Examples:
- Risk-taking or self-destructive behaviour
Changes in substance use
Withdrawal
Examples:
- Withdrawal from friends and social activities
- Loss of interest in school, work or hobbies
Talking about dying by suicide
Examples:
- Threats to hurt themselves or take their own life
- Talking generally about dying by suicide
- Actively seeking the means to complete suicide
Preparing for death
Examples:
- Obtaining the means to complete suicide
- Getting one’s end-of-life affairs in order
- Giving away prized possessions
Feelings:
Hopelessness and helplessness
Feeling like a burden
Anxiety
Preoccupation with death
Sudden lifting of mood
Examples:
- A sudden sense of calm
THIS LIST IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE
UK HELPLINES:
Samaritans
- 116 123 [24 HOUR]
- jo@samaritans.org
SHOUT
- 85258 (text) [24 HOUR]
Papyrus (under 35s)
- 08000684141 [24 HOUR]
- 07786 209 697 (text)
- pat@papyrus-uk.org
SANEline
- 03003047000 [4:30-10pm]
National Suicide Prevention Helpline
- 08006895652 [6pm-midnight]
CALM
- 0800585858 [5pm-midnight]
- Webchat: https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support
Switchboard (LGBTQ+)
- 03003300630
SOS – Silence of Suicide
- 0808 115 1505 [8pm to midnight Monday to Friday, 4pm to midnight Saturday and Sunday]
- contact@sossilenceofsuicide.org
- https://sossilenceofsuicide.org/
Read more about suicide risk factors and warning signs:
CDC. (2024, April 25). Risk and Protective Factors for Suicide. Suicide Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/risk-factors/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/factors/index.html
Zero Suicide Alliance. Suicide Incidence. https://www.zerosuicidealliance.com/ZSA-Resources/facts-for-action/suicide-incidence
Mental Health UK. (2019). Suicide. https://mentalhealth-uk.org/suicide/
National Institute of Mental Health. (2022). Warning Signs of Suicide. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/warning-signs-of-suicide
American Psychological Association (2019, November). Suicide warning signs. https://www.apa.org/topics/suicide/signs
NHS. (2024). Suicide warning signs. Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust. https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/health-and-wellbeing/suicide-prevention/worried-about-someone/warning-signs