Suicide

Hopelessness can be a powerful liar. It tells people that they are alone, and makes people feel isolated, even if they are surrounded with love and support. In this state of mind, telling someone they are not alone can feel like a lie, too.

People who are thinking about suicide often don’t feel comfortable saying so. Their loved ones don’t know how to bring the topic up, or if they should. But there is hope: there are things we can do to help, and signs we can look out for.

NAMI Chicago can help. We can help both people experiencing crisis and the people who are worried about them. We are here to listen and help you make a plan. Call us at 833-626-4244, or if this is an emergency, call 911 and ask for a CIT-trained officer.

 
 

Suicide Risk Factors

There’s no single cause for suicide. Instead, there are a number of risk factors-- characteristics or conditions that increase the chance that a person may think about suicide or die by suicide. 

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Health Factors

  • Mental health conditions, including depression, substance use problems, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders and schizophrenia

  • Personality traits of aggression, mood changes and poor relationships

  • Serious physical health conditions including pain

  • Traumatic brain injury

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Environmental Factors

  • Access to lethal means including firearms and drugs

  • Prolonged stress, such as harassment, bullying, relationship problems or unemployment

  • Stressful life events, like rejection, divorce, financial crisis, other life transitions or loss

  • Exposure to another person’s suicide, or to graphic or sensationalized accounts of suicide

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Historical Factors

  • Previous suicide attempts

  • Family history of suicide

  • Childhood abuse, neglect or trauma

 
 

Suicide Warning Signs

Being able to talk about how you and others in your life are feeling is an important part of suicide prevention. Checking in with each other and starting open conversations reduces stigma around talking about mental health and suicide.

Often when people are thinking about suicide, there are signs we can notice in advance and help. You know yourself, and you know the people in your life. If you notice changes in behavior or mood that don’t feel right, or hear things in conversation that worry you, trust your instinct.  

Here are a few warning signs to look out for. A note: if a person shows these signs, then suddenly seems to feel better, still check in with them. The sudden improvement might mean a person has decided to act on their suicidal thoughts and they feel relief about it. Starting an open discussion is the best way to learn what’s going on with someone.

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Talk

Red Flag Statements:

  • “All of my problems will be over soon”

  • “I don’t feel like I belong”

  • “No one can do anything to help me”

  • “I just can’t do this anymore”

  • “I feel like such a burden to everyone”

  • “No one would care if I was gone”

  • “I just want to go to sleep forever”

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Behavior

  • Sleeping all the time, or not sleeping much at all

  • Isolating or withdrawing from family or friends

  • Physical health complaints like aches and pains

  • Reckless behaviors, including increased use of alcohol or drugs

  • Loss of interest in things that were once pleasurable

  • Change in appearance, appetite or weight

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Mood

  • Desperation

  • Overwhelming worry

  • Anger

  • Guilt or shame

  • Worthlessness

  • Loneliness

  • Sadness

  • Hopelessness

  • Helplessness

 

How to Help

NAMI Chicago believes that healing is possible. If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, please call NAMI Chicago’s Helpline at 833-626-4244 for a listening ear and guidance, or if this is an emergency call 911 and request a CIT-trained officer.

Connection and open conversations are important first steps to helping someone who is thinking about suicide. To learn more, click here.