National Suicide Awareness Month is NOW! Suicide is a major public health concern, especially in the United States. It is known as the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. Not a lot of people understand the relevancy of suicide, why it happens, who it happens to, and how it happens.
Suicide is a hard topic to discuss especially when you’ve been a victim of attempted suicide or know someone who has committed suicide. However, it’s important to know the signs and symptoms of suicide and how to prevent it from happening.
Several suicide signs and symptoms include:
-
Talking about wanting to die
-
Speaking of guilt or shame
-
Acting anxious or agitated
-
Changing eating/sleeping habits
-
Displaying extreme mood swings
-
Speaking of feeling empty, hopeless, and having no reason to live
If you ever witness anyone with any of these symptoms, PLEASE tell someone! It is imperative.
Sometimes people are not aware of how people around them are feeling, especially the people closest to them. It is important to know what to say and when to say it when dealing with a person who is having suicidal thoughts. Being helpful to someone who is thinking of committing suicide includes being direct, being willing to listen, and being non-judgemental. Be able to talk to the other person openly. When listening to the person, allow them to express their feelings and also be accepting of their feelings and when you’re speaking to them, do not be judgemental of what they say or think. Suicide happens more often than we think. It can happen to anybody. So please, be aware of the people surrounding you!