Suicide remains a critical public health concern, affecting both adults and teens across diverse communities. It is often driven by complex factors, including mental health challenges, social pressures, and life stressors, making it essential to recognize the warning signs and offer support.
For teens, navigating academic, social, and emotional challenges can heighten their vulnerability, while adults may face overwhelming responsibilities or feelings of isolation. Understanding the root causes, reducing stigma, and fostering open communication are vital steps toward prevention. Lets explores the impact of suicide, highlights warning signs, and emphasizes the importance of seeking help to save lives.
What are the warning signs for adults?
Risk is greater if a behavior is new or has increased, and if it seems related to a painful event, loss or change.
- Talking about or making plans for suicide
- Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly
- Talking about being a burden to others
- Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
- Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
- Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Withdrawing or feeling isolated
- Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
- Displaying extreme mood swings
What are the warning signs for teens?
- Talking about or making plans for suicide
- Expressing hopelessness about the future
- Displaying severe or overwhelming emotional pain or distress
- Showing worrisome changes in behavior, particularly in combination with the warning signs above
- Withdrawal from or changing social connections or situations
- Changes in sleep (increased or decreased)
- Anger or hostility that seems out of character or out of context
- Recent increased agitation or irritability
If you or someone you know is struggling and showing the above warning signs, help is available. Call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org, or reach out to a mental health professional. If you are a patient of White-Wilson Medical Center, speak with your primary care physician to get support and resources that you need.
