Beware the warning signs

Changes in life may be upsetting and they may want to escape a difficult problem or situation, or get relief from terrible stress.

People who are thinking about suicide feel alone and isolated, and often believe that no one understands how they feel.

People who talk about suicide may be likely to try it. In fact 75% of people who commit suicide give some warning. This means all suicide threats should be taken seriously and you can do something to stop a friend taking their life.

Warning signs include:

• Talking or joking about suicide. Your friend may talk about dying, threaten to kill him or herself, or say things like “nothing matters”, or “I wish I was dead”.
• Depression. Your friend may feel hopeless, lose interest in doing anything and withdraw from friends and family.
• Preparing for death. Many teens who are planning suicide will give away favourite things, or even say goodbye.
• Self-criticism. Listen to things your friend says, things like “I can’t do anything right” or “I’m hideous and pathetic”, may mean they are feeling suicidal.
• Changes in personality. Someone who is usually sociable, may not want to go out, may become negative, aggressive or irritable, lose their friendships.
• Loss of interest in appearance, drop in hygiene. If your friend stops caring what they look like, getting dressed or even bathing or washing.
• Risk-taking behaviour. Often people who are feeling suicidal do risky, dangerous things like drink and drive, have unprotected sex, or take drugs.
• Excessive feelings of guilt, self-blame, failure. If someone is depressed, they often feel guilty and blame themselves, and it can be very difficult to talk to them — be as patient as you can.
• Suddenly feel better. If you know a friend who has been very depressed and hasn’t been for treatment, but is suddenly back to normal’ this could be dangerous. It may mean they have set a date for their suicide and know the pain will soon end.
• Writing poems, essays about death, SMSes or painting images of death. This is a cry for help, listen to it and get help.

Suicidal feelings and thoughts are part of depression; they are real and not a sign of weakness. Many of us have felt the same way at some time in our life so don’t be afraid to talk about how you feel.

ALSO READ: Depression: The silent killer