Suicide WARNING SIGNS:
- Threatening to harm or end one’s life
- Seeking or access to means: seeking pills, weapons, or other means
- Evidence or expression of a suicide plan
- Expressing (writing or talking) ideation about suicide, wish to die or death
- Hopelessness
- Rage, anger, seeking revenge
- Acting reckless, engaging impulsively in risky behaviour
- Expressing feelings of being trapped with no way out
- Increasing or excessive substance use
Expresses no reason for living, no sense of purpose in life
Potential Risk Factors:
Very High Risk:
seek immediate help from emergency or mental health professional.
- Unemployed or recent financial difficulties
- Divorced, separated, widowed
- Social Isolation
- Withdrawing from family, friends, society
- Anxiety, agitation, abnormal sleep (too much or too little)
- Dramatic changes in mood
• Prior traumatic life events or abuse • Previous suicide behaviour
• Chronic mental illness
• Chronic, debilitating physical illness
High Risk:
seek help from mental health professional
Low Risk:
recommend counseling and monitor for development of warning signs.