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Information Resource - Suicide Awareness
Common Warning Signs
- Giving
away favorite possessions
- A marked
or noticeable change in
an individual's behavior
- Previous
suicide attempts
and statements revealing
a desire to die.
- Depression
(crying, insomnia,
inability to think
or function, excessive
sleep or appetite
loss).
- Inappropriate "goodbyes".
- Verbal
behavior that is ambiquous
or indirect. "I'm going
away on a real long
trip... You won't have
to worry about me anymore...
I want to go to sleep
and never wake up."
- Purchase
of a gun or pills.
- Alcohol or drug
use.
- Sudden
happiness after
a long depression.
- Obsession
about death and
talk about suicide.
- Decline
in performance
of work, school
or other activities.
- Deteriorating
physical appearance
or reckless
actions.
High-Risk Life Events Associated with Suicide:
- Death
or terminal illness of
a loved one.
- Divorce,
separation, or broken
relationship.
- Loss
of health (real or
imaginary).
- Loss
of job, home, money,
self-esteem, personal
security.
- Anniversaries.
- Difficulties
with school, family,
the law.
- Early
stages of recovery
from depression.
What to Do:
- Take
suicide threats seriously,
be direct, open and honest
in communications.
- Listen,
allow the individual
to express their feelings
and express your concerns
in a nonjudgmental
way.
- Say
things like, "I'm here
for you... Let's talk...
I'm here to help."
- Ask, "Are
you having suicidal
thoughts? A detailed
plan indicates greater
risk.
- Take
action sooner rather
than later.
- Get
the individual who
is at risk connected
with professional help.
- Dispose
of pills, drugs and
guns.
- Don't
worry about being
disloyal to the individual;
contact a reliable
family member or
close friend of the
person.
What Not to Do:
- Do not
leave the person alone,
even if you feel the
risk to their safety
immediate.
- Do
not treat the threat
lightly--even if the
person begins to joke
about it.
- Do
not act shocked or
condemn. There may
not be another cry
for help.
- Do
not point out to them
how much better off
they are than others.
This increases feelings
of guilt and worthlessness.
- Do
not swear yourself
to secrecy.
- Do
not offer simple
solutions.
- Do
not suggest drugs
or alcohol as a
solution.
- Do
not judge the
person.
- Avoid
arguments.
- Do
not try to counsel
the person yourself,
get professional
help!
**From Muskingum County Suicide Prevention Coaltion's Suicide Prevention
Fact Card.
Where to Get Help
The Muskingum University Counseling Office at 826-8091 or 826-8142. If you need
to talk to a counselor and it is after office hours, call campus
police at 826-8155 and they can reach us. You can also contact your Area Coordinator
or RA and they will be able to reach one of us to come and talk with you.
Six County, Inc. Crisis Hotline: 453-5818 or 1-800-344-5818
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK
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