What to Do When Someone Is Considering Suicide

Suicidal tendencies are a disturbance in thought and psychological well-being that requires a listening ear and an embracing hand. Our responsibility toward people with suicidal tendencies is to provide appropriate support and seek to begin changing their lives and thoughts. With this in mind, I present this article throughTatmeen to build awareness about the causes and signs of suicide and what to do when someone is thinking about suicide.

Causes of suicide:

1. Having a psychological condition, such as depression or another disorder.
2. A family medical history of mood disorders or suicide.
3. Physical or sexual abuse, or exposure to violence or bullying.
4. Misuse of medication.
5. Access to means of suicide, such as firearms or medication.
6. Experiencing the suicide of a family member or friend.
7. Conflict with or loss of close friends or family members.
8. Physical or medical problems, such as changes related to puberty or chronic illnesses.
9. Family pressure and high expectations of children.
10. Misuse of social media.
11. Following content creators and becoming obsessed with comparison and perfectionism.

Signs of suicide:

1. Talking or writing about suicide, such as saying, “I will kill myself” or “I will not cause you any more problems after today.”
2. Withdrawing from social contact.
3. Mood swings.
4. Using drugs or alcohol.
5. Feeling psychologically overwhelmed, hopeless, or helpless about a situation.
6. Changes in the usual routine, including eating or sleeping patterns.
7. Doing dangerous or self-harming things.
8. Abandoning friendships or suddenly ending relationships.
9. Personality changes, intense anxiety, or agitation when some of the previously mentioned warning signs are present.

What should you do when someone is thinking about suicide?

1. Talk to them about the importance of achieving psychological and mental well-being.
2. Encourage them to spend time with family and help them avoid isolation.
3. Monitor their social media activity and talk to them about the content they follow.
4. Encourage them to follow a healthy diet and lifestyle.
5. Encourage them to reduce the psychological pressure caused by toxic relationships in their life.
6. Learn about adolescents’ lives and work to understand and embrace them.
7. Monitor the medication they take, and keep sharp and dangerous objects away from them.
8. Support them in seeking psychological treatment or sharing what is troubling them with someone they trust.
9. Do not belittle or dismiss their feelings or address them with phrases such as: “This is blasphemy; you are being ridiculous,” “Your life will become harder,” “You deserve what is happening to you,” “Stop being spoiled,” or “Your life was wrong to begin with.”
10. Listen to them carefully and attentively, and work to embrace and support them. Use encouraging phrases such as: “I am here and ready to listen to you at any time,” “These feelings will not last forever,” “You are not alone; I am with you and accept your differences,” and “Nothing in the world is worth depriving us of you.”

None of us can remain psychologically steady in the face of life and its circumstances, whose difficulties take us through periods of rising and falling. We need to recognize when we are in a low period and understand that it will eventually end. We must handle it carefully so that we do not break or become swept along by the psychological pressures and feelings of frustration it generates, which may lead us toward suicide. We must also understand someone else who is currently going through such a period and help them move through it. If we are unable to do so, we should encourage them to seek treatment or psychological counseling, which can save any of us from suicide.

Download the Tatmeen app for online psychological and family consultations from the Apple Store or Google Play. You can also register on the Tatmeen mental health website to access valuable information and practical tools for strengthening your psychological and family well-being.