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September is Suicide Prevention Month

Ryan Morales and David Romero

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“There’s no single cause for suicide.”

Most suicide is impulsive NOT planned.

The most common cause for suicide is severe depression. However, other mental illnesses can increase the risk of suicide including:

Mental disorders are not the only cause for suicide. Other causes may include:

“Early detection of warning signs can lead to professional help and mental health treatment and can even save a life”

There are also many signs that a person is in risk of commiting suicide. These signs include:

Change in behavior such as increased use of alcohol or drugs, looking for a way to end their lives, such as searching online for methods, withdrawing from activities, isolating from family and friends, sleeping too much or too little, visiting or calling people to say goodbye, giving away prized possessions, aggression or fatigue
Talk of killing themselves, feeling hopeless, having no reason to live, being a burden to others, feeling trapped, or unbearable pain.
Displays moods such as depression, anxiety, irritability, loss of interest, humiliation, shame, agitation or anger.

“You don’t have to be a mental health professional to make a difference.”

Prevention can come at any level:

Individual:

Seeking support from others, along with coping skills is very important.
However, this kind of prevention is unlikely and often needs support from other methods.

Relationship:

Expressing support and attending prevention programs with the individual can help.
Be a positive influence and lower any sense of isolation from an individual.

Community:

The social norms of handling suicide prevention can positively change through programs.
Working together with schools can help educate students on prevention methods.

Society: