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Suicidal Thoughts or Threats
Topic Overview
Health Canada reports on suicide deaths and attempted suicide in Canada. According to the report, almost 3,700 Canadians die as a result of suicide. This report revealed that:1
- Suicide is one of the leading causes of death for people ages 15 to 44.
- Men are 4 times more likely than women to die from a suicide attempt.
- 1 in 5 deaths among young adults ages 15–24 are from suicide.
- Men use firearms and hanging methods of suicide more often then women.
- Suicide rates are much higher in some Aboriginal communities.
Many people have fleeting thoughts of death. Fleeting thoughts of death are less of a problem and are much different from actively planning to commit suicide. Your risk of committing suicide is increased if you think about death and killing yourself often, or if you have made a suicide plan.
Most people who seriously consider suicide do not want to die. Rather, they see suicide as a solution to a problem and a way to end their pain. People who seriously consider suicide feel hopeless, helpless, and worthless. A person who feels hopeless believes that no one can help with a particular event or problem. A person who feels helpless is immobilized and unable to take steps to solve problems. A person who feels worthless is overwhelmed with a sense of personal failure.
Most people who seriously consider or attempt suicide have one or more of the following risks:
- A personal or family history of suicide attempts
- A family history of suicide attempts or completed suicide
- A personal or family history of severe anxiety, depression, or other mental health problem, such as bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness) or schizophrenia
- An alcohol or drug problem (substance abuse problem), such as alcoholism
The warning signs of suicide change with age.
- Warning signs of suicide in children and teens may include preoccupation with death or suicide or a recent breakup of a relationship.
- Warning signs of suicide in adults may include alcohol or substance abuse, recent job loss, or divorce.
- Warning signs of suicide in older adults may include the recent death of a partner or diagnosis of a life-limiting illness.
Anytime someone talks about suicide or about wanting to die or disappear, even in a joking manner, the conversation must be taken seriously. A suicide attempt—even if the attempt did not harm the person—also must be taken seriously. Don't be afraid to talk to someone you think may be considering suicide. There is no proof that talking about suicide leads to suicidal thinking or suicide. Once you know the person's thoughts on the subject, you may be able to help prevent a suicide.
People who have suicidal thoughts may not seek help because they feel they cannot be helped. This usually is not the case. Many people with suicidal thoughts have medical conditions that can be successfully treated. People who have suicidal thoughts often have depression or substance abuse, and both of these conditions can be treated. It is important to seek help when suicidal thoughts occur because medical treatment usually is successful in diminishing these thoughts.
The possibility of suicide is most serious when a person has a plan for committing suicide that includes:
- Having the means, such as weapons or medicines, available to commit suicide or do harm to another person.
- Having set a time and place to commit suicide.
- Thinking there is no other way to solve the problem or end the pain.
People who are considering suicide often are undecided about choosing life or death. With compassionate help, they may choose to live.
Check your symptoms to decide if and when you should see a doctor or get other help.
Home Treatment
If you are thinking about suicide, talk to someone about your feelings. It is important to remember that there are people who are willing and able to talk with you about your suicidal thoughts. With proper treatment, most suicidal people can be helped to feel better about life.
People for you to consider talking with include:
- A family member, friend, or spiritual adviser.
- Your health professional, such as a doctor or counsellor.
- Other mental health resources, such as a community mental health agency or employee assistance program.
- Checking your local phone book or provincial website for resources on getting help in your area.
Tips for family and friends
You may be able to help someone who is considering suicide.
- If the suicide threat seems real, and the
person has a specific
suicide plan:
- Call 911 (or the police if 911 is not available) in order to prevent the person from carrying out the threat.
- Consider your own safety.
If you are in a safe environment and the person will not harm you:
- Stay with the person, or ask someone you trust to stay with the person, until help arrives.
- Don't argue with the person or make statements like "It's not as bad as you think," and don't challenge the person by saying "You're not the type to commit suicide." Arguing with the person may only increase his or her feelings of being out of control of his or her life.
- Talk about the situation as openly as possible. Tell the person that you don't want him or her to die or to harm another person. Show understanding and compassion.
- If you think that someone you know has made a
suicide plan, call your health professional.
- Your health professional may be able to help identify a mental health specialist and arrange an appointment for a person you think is considering suicide. An appointment with your health professional may not be needed.
- Be sure to check your local phone book or provincial website for resources on getting help in your area.
- Once a treatment plan has been developed, you may be able to assist the person get the help he or she needs.
Symptoms to watch for during home treatment
Call your doctor if any of the following symptoms occur before you see your health professional:
- The suicide threat becomes real.
- Symptoms become more severe or frequent.
Prevention
Suicide can be prevented. While some suicides occur without warning, most do not. You can learn to recognize the warning signs of suicide and take action when the signs are present. Take action to evaluate your suspicions if you think that someone you know is considering suicide.
- The warning signs of suicide change with age.
Know the warning signs of suicide:
- Warning signs of suicide in children and teens may include preoccupation with death or suicide or a recent breakup of a relationship.
- Warning signs of suicide in adults include alcohol or substance abuse, recent job loss, or divorce.
- Warning signs of suicide in older adults include the recent death of a partner or diagnosis of a life-limiting illness.
- Take all warning signs seriously, even if the suicidal threat or attempt seems minor. Take any conversation about suicide seriously, even if the person mentions it in a joking manner.
- Don't be afraid to ask "What is the matter?" or bring up the subject of suicide. There is no proof that talking about suicide leads to suicidal thinking or suicide.
- Be willing to listen. If a family member, friend, or co-worker talks about suicide or wanting to die or disappear, even in a joking manner, the conversation must be taken seriously. Once you know the person's thoughts on the subject, you may be able to help prevent a suicide.
- Help the person make arrangements to see a doctor or
mental health professional immediately.
- Since a suicidal person may feel he or she cannot be helped, you may have to take an active role in finding a health professional and getting the person to the appointment.
- Check your local phone book or provincial website for resources on getting help in your area.
- Make sure the person will have someone with him or her at all times until contact is made with a mental health professional.
- Help the person identify other potential sources of support from people who care about him or her, such as family, friends, or spiritual adviser.
- Follow up to find out how the person's treatment is going. A suicidal person may be reluctant to seek help and may not continue with treatment after the first visit with a health professional. Your support may help the person decide to continue treatment.
- Remove all guns from the home. Studies have shown that suicide attempts are more likely to lead to death in homes that have a gun, even if the gun is kept unloaded and securely locked up.
- Discard all prescription and non-prescription medicines that are not currently being used.
Preparing For Your Appointment
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.
You can help your health professional diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:
- How long have you had suicidal thoughts?
- How often do you think about committing suicide?
- What was going on in your life when you first noticed the depressed or suicidal feelings?
- Have you ever had similar thoughts in the past? If so, did you seek and receive treatment?
- Have you attempted suicide in the past? If so, did you seek and receive treatment?
- Have you ever been diagnosed with a mental health problem, such as severe anxiety, depression, or schizophrenia?
- Has a family member or close friend ever attempted or committed suicide?
- Has anyone in your family ever been diagnosed with a mental health problem, such as depression or schizophrenia?
- Have you had a recent stressful event in your life?
- Do you keep guns in your home?
- Are you a regular or heavy user of alcohol or illegal drugs? Have you used alcohol or illegal drugs to reduce symptoms of depression?
- Are you taking any prescription or non-prescription medicine? If so, make a list of your medicines and take it with you.
- Are you taking a medicine to treat depression? What is the medicine? When did you start the medicine?
- Do you have any risk factors that make you more likely to have suicidal thoughts?
Other Places To Get Help
Organizations
| Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention | |
| 870 Portage Avenue | |
| Winnipeg, MB R3G 0P1 | |
| Phone: | (204) 784-4073 |
| Fax: | (204) 772-7998 |
| Web Address: | www.suicideprevention.ca |
CASP’s purpose is to reduce the suicide rate and minimize the harmful consequences of suicidal behaviour. | |
| Canadian Mental Health Association | |
| 595 Montreal Road | |
| Suite 303 | |
| Ottawa, ON K1K 4L2 | |
| Fax: | (613) 745-5522 |
| Web Address: | www.cmha.ca |
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) promotes mental health and focuses on combatting mental health problems and emotional disorders. The organization offers workshops, pamphlets, newsletters, and other educational materials as well as contact information for local branches. | |
| LivingWorks | |
| 4303D 11 Street SE | |
| Calgary, AB T2G 4X1 | |
| Phone: | (403) 209-0242 |
| Fax: | (403) 209-0259 |
| Email: | info@livingworks.net |
| Web Address: | www.livingworks.net |
LivingWorks is an education organization to enhance suicide intervention skills at the community level. It is committed to making its suicide prevention training programs widely available, cost-effective, interactive, and easy to learn, with practical applications designed for all types of caregivers. | |
| Provincial Helplines and Websites | |
Many of the resources below provide help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in multiple languages. In an emergency, call 911. Canada-wide resources
Alberta
British Columbia
New Brunswick
Ontario
Saskatchewan
Yukon
Other provinces Check your local phone book or provincial or territorial website. | |
Related Information
References
Citations
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine |
| Last Revised | May 4, 2012 |
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Last Revised: May 4, 2012
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