Danger Signs of Suicide

Risk Factors

** Past History of Attempted Suicide -- Between 20 and 50 percent of people who kill themselves had previously attempted suicide. Those who have made serious suicide attempts are at a much higher risk for actually taking their lives.
** Psychiatric Disorders
** Depression
** Schizophrenia
** Substance Abuse, particularly when combined with depression
** Personality Disorders, especially Borderline, Antisocial
** Genetic Predisposition
** Family history of suicide, depression, or other psychiatric illness.
** Neurotransmitters -- A clear relationship has been demonstrated between low concentrations of the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleactic acid (5-HIAA) in cerebrospinal fluid and an increased incidence of attempted and completed suicide in psychiatric patients.
** Impulsivity
** Impulsive individuals are more apt to act on suicidal impulses.

Demographics
Sex: Males are three to five times more likely to commit suicide than females.
Age: Elderly Caucasian males have the highest suicide rates.

** Third leading cause of death for 15-19 aged youngsters.
** 300% increase over the last 30 years.
** Occurs most often in April and May or in late fall and early winter.
** Adolescents who attempt suicide tend to be female by the ratio of 4 to 1. 90% of these youngsters try to kill themselves by ingesting drugs.
** Completers tend to be male by a ratio of 3 to 1. Two-thirds of these youngsters kill themselves with a gun.
** 19 adolescents each day, 5000-7000 young people each year end their own lives. As many as 5 times that number make less "successful" attempts at suicide.
** 80% of suicide attempters communicate their intentions verbally prior to their attempt. 20% communicate the notion that they are at risk through their behavior.
** Depression is a common antecedent to suicide.
** Drug overdose or poisoning is the leading cause of attempters.
** Firearms and explosives are the most common causes of death followed by hanging and poisoning.
** Saturday and Monday have been common days for suicidal acts to occur.
** There is a low percentage (5%) of suicides attributed to mental illness.
** For males and females, the motive is more likely to be tied up with interpersonal relationships and performance issues, such as pressure to succeed.
** Alaska and Nevada have the highest documented suicide rate. The highest increasing area is the southern states.
** 9 out of 10 attempts of suicide take place in the home.
** Single, white adolescents are more at risk.
** Most suicidal adolescents look to their friends for help.
** 2 out of every 3 suicides involve chemical use.

Suicide Crisis
A suicide crisis is a time limited occurrence signaling immediate danger of suicide. Suicide risk, be contrast, is a broader term that includes the above factors such as age and sex, psychiatric diagnosis, past suicide attempts, and traits like impulsivity.

The signs of crisis are:
** Precipitating Event -- A recent event that is particularly distressing such as loss of loved one or career failure. Sometimes the individuals own behavior precipitates the event: for example, a man’s abusive behavior while drinking causes his wife to leave him.
** Intense Affective State in Addition to Depression -- Desperation ( anguish plus urgency regarding need for relief), rage, anxiety, guilt, hopelessness, acute sense of abandonment.
** Changes in Behavior
** Speech suggesting the individual is close to suicide. Such speech may be indirect. Be alert to such statements as, “My family would be better off without me.” Sometimes those contemplating suicide talk as if they are saying goodbye or going away.
** Actions ranging from buying a gun to suddenly putting one’s affairs in order.
** Deterioration in functioning at work or socially, increasing use of alcohol, other self-destructive behavior, loss of control, rage explosions.