by Martina Billings-McAtee, RN

Created on: January 13, 2010

With articles and news headlines touting suicides of children as young as seven, many people often wonder, how they did not notice how depressed this person was. People often want to point fingers and look to place blame on family and friends. The truth is, many people have contemplated suicide for one reason or another.  For some, it is a fleeting thought in a time of crisis, but for others, it is something that is in the back of their minds every day while they go about performing routine tasks.  Below are signs to look for if you suspect that somebody you love may be serious about suicide.

1. They make comments such as "The world would be better off without me," or "I wish I was dead"-Sometimes they project their feelings to others saying "You wish I was dead" or "You wish I was never born,"

2. They seem to be obsessed with death-This goes beyond the Emo black wearing teenage angst. They live for violent images, romanticize death and dying and often surround themselves with symbols of death.

3. They blog about death and dying and sometimes chat online one pro-suicide websites- While this may not be easy to catch if it is observed take it seriously.

4. If they speak of suicide and they have a plan- If sometimes people say, "Ughh, I wish I was dead," it can be just a bad day but when somebody knows exactly how they are going to do it the risk is greater that they are serious.

5. They just started a medication for depression-It seems counter-intuitive to say anti-depressants are a sign of suicide but truthfully, some people who are majorly depressed are too depressed to kill themselves. The start of anti-depressants can often make people feel just energized enough to follow through on their plans to take their lives.

6. Withdrawal- A sudden removal of themselves from friends and family. A lack of interest in previous activities. These can also be subtle signs of suicidal ideations.

7. They begin to put their affairs in orders-This may be covert but often they begin to speak about who should get what when they pass away and what arrangements they want made for their funerals or deaths. It may be spoken casually so not to cause alarm.

8. Reckless behavior-A lack of fear for themselves and an increase in dangerous activities.

9. A Recent Traumatic Event- Sometimes a recent trauma such as a divorce, a death or even a violent crime can be the trigger that pushes somebody over the edge.

There is no one sign or symptom that can say a person is going to commit suicide. If you suspect that a friend is contemplating suicide you should consult family members or a counselor as to how to proceed. Mostly you should just attempt to be their friend and stick by them through a confusing time in their lives.

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