How we can stop suicide?

Suicide is a major public health issue and a leading cause of death worldwide. In the United States alone, over 47,000 people died by suicide in 2017, making it the 10th leading cause of death overall. While suicide rates have increased by over 30% since 1999, suicide is preventable. By raising awareness, destigmatizing mental illness, improving social connections, limiting access to lethal means, and providing support, we can work together to stop suicide.

Table of Contents

What are the risk factors for suicide?

There are a number of factors that can increase risk of suicide. The most significant risk factors include:

Mental disorders – Over 90% of people who die by suicide have a mental disorder at the time of death. The most common associated disorders are depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, and substance abuse disorders.

Prior suicide attempt – Having a history of previous suicide attempt(s) is one of the strongest predictors of death by suicide.
Family history – Individuals with a family member who died by suicide have increased risk.
Life stressors – Major life stressors such as job loss, financial strain, relationship problems, trauma or abuse can increase risk, especially when several occur at the same time.

Chronic pain – Ongoing physical pain and health issues can be a contributing factor.
Prolonged stress from discrimination – Discrimination due to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability or other factors can lead to isolation and chronic stress that increases risk.
Access to lethal means – Easy access to guns and certain medications increases risk of acting on suicidal thoughts.

Exposure to others’ suicidal behavior – People who have had exposure to another person’s suicide, such as a family member, are more at risk, especially adolescents.

While these factors increase risk, they do not necessarily cause or predict that suicide will occur. Most people with mental disorders or other suicide risk factors do not engage in suicidal behavior. However, engaging protective factors through a comprehensive approach is vital for suicide prevention.

How can we prevent suicide on an individual level?

On an individual level, we can help prevent suicide by:

Being proactive in talking about mental health and suicide – Don’t wait for warning signs. Have open conversations to help reduce stigma.
Learning the warning signs – Recognize warning signs such as hopelessness, seeking means for suicide, or saying goodbye.
Safely storing firearms and medications – Reduce easy access to lethal means if a person is showing warning signs.

Following up after discharge – Support individuals after release from care for mental illness or a suicide attempt.
Avoiding glorification – Limit exposing vulnerable individuals to stories glorifying or romanticizing suicide.
Spreading positivity online – Counter negative online content with positive messages of hope.

Encouraging help-seeking – Emphasize that mental disorders are real illnesses, and early treatment helps.
Supporting effective care – Help at-risk individuals access evidence-based treatments from qualified providers.
Being there – Provide support to others through ongoing communication and compassion.

Learning healthy coping strategies – Model and teach resilience and healthy coping techniques.

Small actions can make a big difference. Checking in, listening, and directing those at risk to resources can help protect them during difficult times.

What makes an effective suicide prevention program?

Comprehensive public health programs aimed at reducing risks and increasing protective factors are key to reducing suicide rates. Effective prevention programs typically incorporate these elements:

Early screening and intervention – Systematically identifying at-risk individuals and connecting them with coordinated support and treatment.
Access to mental health and substance abuse services – Increasing availability of affordable, evidence-based services in the community.
Care transitions and follow-up – Providing support, psychoeducation, and care coordination after discharge from hospitals, ERs, or psychiatric facilities.

Mental health awareness training – Educating community members, leaders, healthcare providers, and gatekeepers about suicide risk and prevention.
Youth programs – Targeted programs in schools supporting mental health literacy and peer intervention.
Means restriction – Reducing access to highly lethal methods used in suicide deaths, such as firearms and medications.

Media messaging – Promoting collaboration with media and social media platforms to deliver healthy messaging and counter risks.
Crisis intervention services – Establishing easily accessible hotlines, mobile crisis units, or crisis centers for those in urgent need.

A comprehensive approach across individual, relationship, community, and societal levels is needed. Programs should target high-risk groups while also aiming to establish protective factors more broadly.

What role does mental health treatment play?

Access to evidence-based mental health treatment is vital for individuals with mental illnesses or substance abuse disorders, which are present in the vast majority of suicide deaths. Key treatment approaches include:

Medications – Antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotic medications help stabilize mood and treat underlying mental health conditions.
Psychotherapy – Cognitive behavioral therapy, problem-solving therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy help develop coping skills and strategies for suicidal thoughts.

Inpatient and residential treatment – Short-term hospitalization or residential care may be needed during acute suicidal crises to stabilize higher-risk patients.
Group therapy and support groups – Group settings provide peer support and help individuals feel less alone or isolated.
Care coordination – Case managers help provide integrated care coordination, especially during high-risk periods after discharge from an ER or psychiatric hospitalization.

Removing barriers to mental healthcare through improved funding, integrated care models, telehealth expansion, and parity legislation is important for making evidence-based treatments more accessible to all.

What role do friends and family play?

Friends, family members, and peer supports play a vital role in suicide prevention. Some ways to provide support include:

Being proactive – Check in regularly and ask directly about suicide without fear. Listen without judgment.

Encouraging professional help – Validate feelings and experiences, but recommend speaking with a doctor or mental health professional.
Offering hope – Remind them that with help, they can feel better and that suicidal thoughts do eventually pass.
Removing means – If you observe clear warning signs, help restrict access to any firearms, medications, or other methods the person is considering.

Being there – Provide unconditional support and compassion. Don’t try quick fixes, just listen. Your support matters.
Following up – Continue to stay in touch and support after any crisis or following treatment. The risk remains high.
Taking care of yourself – Friends and family should also maintain their own mental wellbeing by getting support when needed.

Connecting at-risk individuals with professional help while also being a source of support and comfort themselves is key. Friends and family can make a major difference in keeping loved ones safe.

What suicide prevention efforts show promise for the future?

Some promising directions for suicide prevention moving forward include:

Crisis response innovation – Use of mobile crisis units with mental health workers, crisis stabilization units, and call center models like 988.

Lethal means safety – Waiting periods, medication packaging, firearm safety technology, and limitation of access to hotspots.
Technology solutions – Web and phone-based tools for screening, treatment, means restriction, social connection, and support.
Machine learning – Use of technology like artificial intelligence to identify those most at risk and deliver targeted interventions.

Pharmacogenomics – Genetic testing to deliver precision medicine and improve treatment of mental illness.
Attempted suicide care – Improved post-attempt care coordination and counseling to prevent reattempts.
Media strategies – Guidelines for safe messaging and suicide portrayal across news and entertainment media.

Community engagement – Grassroots programs that empower communities to reduce risk and increase resilience.

By improving coordination, leveraging technology, reducing stigma, and implementing evidence-based practices, we can move towards preventing suicide. While still a leading cause of preventable death, suicide is preventable if we work together to drive change at all levels.

What can you do to help stop suicide?

Everyone has a role to play in preventing suicide. Here are some ways you can make a difference:

Educate yourself – Take the time to learn about mental health, suicide warning signs, risk factors, and treatment options.
Share resources – Keep local crisis line numbers handy and share educational tools, websites, and resources.
Support others – Reach out to loved ones who are struggling. Kindness and understanding go a long way.

Advocate – Call or write your policymakers to advocate for better funding and access for mental healthcare.
Volunteer – Local suicide prevention organizations often need hotline volunteers, trainers, speakers and more.
Promote safe messaging – Avoid sharing stories or details of suicide deaths that romanticize, normalize or provide specifics.

Practice self-care – Look after your own mental health and wellbeing to strengthen your ability to help others.
Spread hope – Share stories of recovery and healing to inspire those who are struggling.
Check your biases – Examine your own views around mental illness and suicidal behavior to be part of the cultural change needed.

Suicide prevention begins with each one of us. Get educated, speak up, reach out, and take action. Together, we have the power to save lives.

Conclusion

Suicide is a complex public health issue, but one that can be prevented through collaborative efforts to expand access to care, restrict lethal means, raise awareness, and promote crisis intervention. On an individual level, we all have opportunities each day to help someone in crisis by showing compassion, building connection, and providing hope. Suicide prevention requires perseverance and participation across all levels of society, but by working together, we can create a future with fewer suicide deaths. There are always alternatives to suicide. Increasing awareness, education, support and advocacy are key to overcoming this tragic and preventable cause of death. If you are having suicidal thoughts, don’t hesitate to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to speak with a caring, trained crisis counselor. You matter. There is hope. There are people who want to help.