Warning Signs

• Talking about wanting to kill themselves, or saying they wish they were dead
• Looking for a way to kill themselves, such as hoarding medicine or buying a gun
• Talking about a specific suicide plan
• Consistently feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
• Feeling trapped, desperate, or needing to escape from an intolerable situation
• Having the feeling of being a burden to others
• Feeling humiliated
• Having intense anxiety and/or panic attacks
• Losing interest in things, or losing the ability to experience pleasure
• Insomnia
• Becoming socially isolated and withdrawn from friends, family, and others
• Acting irritable or agitated in a highly unusual manner
• Showing rage, or talking about seeking revenge for being victimized or rejected, whether or not the situations the person describes seem real.

Steps to Take When a Friend is Considering Suicide

• Know the warning signs.
• Don’t handle the person alone.
• Be direct with your questions about suicide.
• Don’t judge.
• Don’t keep secrets.
• Remove harmful objects.
• Never leave the person alone.
• Try to get them to a professional.
• Call for help.

Steps to Approach a Friend With a Mental Health Challenge

• Turn confrontation into conversation.
• Approach a friend/family member in a familiar place.
• Discuss the reasons they don’t want to seek help.
• Talk face to face.
• Understand you’re not a mental health professional.
• Know the limits of not being able to help someone who doesn’t want help.
• Take care of your mental health while helping someone else.