The Saner Living Guru: Suicide is preventable; watch for these warning signs

Posted on Mon, Oct 11, 2010 : 6 a.m.

The Saner Living Guru: Suicide is preventable; watch for these warning signs

By Chris Wucherer

photo credit: gualtiero, flickr

Winter is coming, bringing with it shortened days, cloudy skies and blowing winds. The joys and sunshine of summer are packed away like favorite toys banished to the attic for safe keeping. This is tough news for people suffering from depression, where life can seem bleaker and more futile.

Recent news headlines have been fraught with stories of tragic suicides. Broncos football playerÂ Kenny McKinleyÂ was found dead on Sept. 21 of a gunshot wound to the head. There was nothing alarming in his behavior in the weeks before his apparent suicide, head coach Josh McDaniels said, according to CNN.com. The next day, Tyler Clemente, a freshman at Rutgers University, jumped to his death off of the George Washington Bridge after a secret broadcast of a gay sex encounter.

These dramatic and tragic stories made headlines, but according to the National Institute of Mental Health, in 2007 suicide was the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24. Of every 100,000 people ages 65 and older, 14.3 died by suicide in 2007. This figure is higher than the national average of 11.3 suicides per 100,000 people in the general population.

A few weeks ago, in talking with three friends about how I was going to write a blog post about suicide, I learned that all four of us had someone close to us either attempt or commit suicide. I found this news sobering indeed.

The heartening news is that suicide is preventable.

The American Society for Suicide Prevention posts these warning signs of suicide:

Observable signs of serious depression:
Unrelenting low mood
Pessimism
Hopelessness
Desperation
Anxiety, psychic pain and inner tension
Withdrawal
Sleep problems
Increased alcohol and/or other drug use
Recent impulsiveness and taking unnecessary risks
Threatening suicide or expressing a strong wish to die
Making a plan:
Giving away prized possessions
Sudden or impulsive purchase of a firearm
Obtaining other means of killing oneself such as poisons or medications
Unexpected rage or anger

Click here for tips on what to do when you fear someone may take their own life.

Other resources:

Click below to listen to this story read out loud by the author:

If you or someone you know feels suicidal please reach out for help.

You matter.

Chris, a life coach, business coach and psychotherapist, has 28 years of experience helping people create saner lives. She uses a wide array of practical tools, tips and a deep visioning process to help people move forward. Chris firmly believes and practices the principles that saner living makes for great living. She is the Saner Living Guru. She writes a blog and has a website. You can reach her at 734-669-7202 or by e-mail.

Comments

Milton Shift

Mon, Oct 11, 2010 : 10:25 a.m.

One of the most important things to do is NOT to minimize their problems. The temptation is to reassure them that things aren't as bad as they think (which may be the case), but doing so makes them feel like you're brushing them off, or worse, that you're questioning their personal qualities and fortitude. Be clear that you understand their problems are real to them and do what you can to show them a way forward, one day at a time. And especially do not tell them that suicide is the easy way out. Firstly, you don't know what they're going through. Someone has to be in a lot of pain to actually consider death desirable. Secondly, saying that death is in any way better than working through their problems is NOT perceived as encouraging. As for you: it's important not to blame yourself if something happens, as you can only control your own actions. I lost my best friend from college to suicide; it's tough not to blame yourself for not doing enough, but you have to remember you did what you could at the time. We aren't perfect either.