We hear about suicides more than we would like to admit. Every day, at least 75 people across the United States purposely end their life in some way or another. Guns, pills and suffocation are just a few ways these people choose to kill themselves. Families and friends are left to pick up the pieces and wonder how something like this could happen. Like many mental and physical illnesses, suicidal tendencies also have symptoms and risks.
Suicide Risks
As humans, we all have to deal with stress in our life. We have bills to worry about paying, relationships to maintain and mend, people who depend on us and school or jobs that can seem overwhelming sometimes. But why do some people succumb to suicidal tendencies and others don’t? There are actually some suicide risk factors which may increase one’s chances of considering and committing suicide. One risk factor is a family history of suicide. If you have a relative or relatives who were close to you that committed suicide as a means to an end, there is a chance you, too, will at least contemplate suicide. Also if a person has a history of mental health issues, like depression, they are more likely to consider suicide. If somebody has attempted suicide before, there is a great chance they will attempt to commit suicide again. Major life events (especially those that deal with the loss or death of a loved one), all of which are stressful to some degree, definitely increases one’s chances of contemplating suicide. If a person has experienced some sort of abuse in the path, whether it be physical, verbal or sexual, they are more likely to have suicidal tendencies. If a person has experienced loss in some shape or form in his life, he may be likely to consider suicide. The loss might be the loss of a friendship, relationship, job or good health. These risks, of course, are not set in stone. Just because somebody loses a job does not mean they are a prime candidate for suicidal tendencies. Usually those people at risk for suicidal tendencies have a combination of these factors, like mental health issues in combination with a sexually abusive past.
Suicide Warnings or Patterns
When a friend or family member commits suicide, it sometimes comes as a surprise until they look back on their loved one’s behavior right before the attempt. Usually there are one or many of the following warning signs for suicidal tendencies. Many people who are contemplating suicide often experience a dramatic change in their sleeping or eating habits as well as their physical appearance. Their personality may seem to change slowly and they may begin to lose interest in all types of activities like school or work, or even activities they once found exciting like sports or hobbies. People who are thinking about suicide often withdraw from all of their loved ones. If they are in school, you may notice their grades radically declining or, if they work, you may notice they have difficulty focusing on their tasks or become frequently bored with their projects and duties. Some common symptoms also include a person who seems to be getting his affairs in order. By this, I mean this person may start to give away prized possessions, revisit his will or life insurance policy and clean his entire house and throw away once valuable items. Another warning sign may be a person who suddenly seems completely cheerful and happy after a bout of depression that seemed to be never-ending.
If you notice these warning signs occurring with somebody you know, do not hesitate to ask if they need any help. If this person is under the age of 18, speak to a trusted adult who may approach him about his recent behavior. People with suicidal tendencies often go through major peaks and valleys in their emotions, so this is a problem you will not want to ignore.
