Take a look at the risk factors and warning signs in the list below. If you have seen some of these in a friend, help them get the help they need.
Have You Heard a Friend Say ...
1. “I want to kill myself.”
2. “I have no reason to live.”
3. “I’m just a burden to everyone.”
4. “I feel trapped!”
5. “My life hurts me so much.”
Sometimes when a friend’s behavior changes in a big way, especially when they have been going through a painful time, it could mean something more.
6. Has a friend started drinking or using drugs? Have they increased the amount they use?
7. Is someone you know suddenly looking at online info about suicide?
8. Has someone in your group started to do crazy and dangerous things?
9. Has a friend withdrawn from regular activities?
10. Are they avoiding family and friends?
11. Is a friend sleeping too much or too little?
12. Is a friend suddenly visiting or calling people to say goodbye?
13. Did a friend start giving away prized possessions?
14. Sometimes random acts of aggression can mean there is a bigger problem.
People who are thinking about suicide can often show certain types of mood changes.
15. Depression
17. Rage
18. Irritability
19. Humiliation
20. Anxiety
In addition to warning signs, there are risk factors which can contribute to the act of suicide. Some of them include:
21. Being Bullied
22. Access to weapons
23. Previous Suicide Attempts
24. LGBTQ young people from highly rejecting families are more than 8 times likely to have attempted suicide than LGBTQ peers of accepting families.
Now you know.
If you're worried about a friend who lives with risk factors and is showing warning signs – help get your friend to a trusted adult who can help. Check out our facebook page for more info.
1-800-273-TALK
With your support you can help us #SaveAFriend by friending us on Facebook and tweeting us @FriendSave. Tag yourself in photos on our Instagram SaveAFriend. Thank you!
The University of Pittsburgh Masters of Social Work program's Wednesday night Social Welfare class led by Tiffany Lumpkin, MSW is joining Persad Center's Safe Spaces program. They are working together to bring awareness to the devastating toll youth suicide is taking on young people in this country.
Persad Center is the nation's second oldest behavioral health clinic focusing on the needs and challenges of the LGBTQ community. In partnership with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Family Health, Persad Center has been working to bring a message of prevention and awareness to all youth with the Safe Spaces program.
Studies reveal that young people will disclose to a peer long before they talk to an adult about suffering depression and considering suicide. Safe Spaces teaches young people how to recognize risk factors and warning signs in their friends (and themselves) and the vital importance of helping their friend talk to a trusted adult.
How You Can Help –
Safe Spaces offers a class-period length training, free of charge, for young people 14-21. Helping us bring this program to a class room or after-school meeting can only increase the impact of our work.
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