Concerned about suicide?

Every parent has heard reports in the media about suicide in young people, and Ireland experiences a number of suicides in young people each year.

Working to create a family where parents listen and children feel they can share problems is worthwhile. Most people who feel suicidal don’t really want to die, they just want to end the emotional pain that they are feeling. This is true of young people too. These are some of the signs which may indicate that someone is having thoughts of suicide:

• Engaging in deliberate self-harm;
• Talking about suicide (“I wish I was dead” or “I wish I would just never wake up”);
• Becoming isolated;
• Drug and alcohol abuse;
• Sudden changes in mood and behaviour;
• Marked changes in social, school or sports performance/interests.

Some factors which can increase the risk of a suicide might include a recent bereavement or break up of a relationship or family.

If you know someone who you think might be thinking of suicide, show you care by offering support, for example say something like: “I’m worried about you and I want to help.”

Don’t shy away from the subject, if you are concerned that someone is acutely suicidal find out by asking them if they have plans to harm themselves.

Get help or encourage them to get help, for example by saying “I will stay with you until you can get help.” There are a wide range of supports and services that can help in a crisis, including:

• The local GP or family doctor;
• GP out-of-hours co-operative services;
• Accident and emergency departments of general hospitals;
• Voluntary support services such as Samaritans and AWARE.

* Based on ‘Concerned about Suicide’ a leaflet produced by HSE Resource Officers for Suicide Prevention and the Suicide Awareness Coordinators for Northern Ireland.