Suicide, the act of taking ones own life, is an all-too-common and tragic public health crisis nowadays, often committed to cope with intense emotional pain. Suicide is particularly tragic because it is a preventable death and leaves behind many loved ones and family members, also known as "suicide survivors", who have to suffer this terrible loss. Suicidal ideation or suicidal thinking is much more common than most people have – in fact, most people have thought about suicide at one point or another. These thoughts are quite troubling, especially as they are usually accompanied by a mental illness such as depression or bipolar disorder . It is critical to know how to recognize and identify signs that a person may be considering suicide.
Note: Warning signs are not always apparent and can differ from person to individual. Many people are straightforward about their thoughts, while others can hide about suicidal thinking and feelings. Prevention The National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) suggests the following tips for helping someone who may be going through a crisis:
If you are thinking about suicide or you know someone who feels suicidal, some suicidal people do not display such symptoms and some warning signs may not be apparent people who feel suicidal can try to hide or say they are all right, learn signs about suicide alert and get treatment and support.
We are not a medical service or suicide prevention helpline. If you are feeling suicidal, we suggest you immediately call a suicide prevention helpline - e.g. Vandrevala Foundation Helpline - 1 860 266 2345 (24x7), Aasra - +91 22 2754 6669 (24x7).
