Your Mind & Body > The Signs of Suicide

For every teenage suicide, there are more than 100 unsuccessful attempts, and
"copycat" suicides spread the tragedy even further. The behavioral patterns found in the backgrounds of most suicide victims - stress, confusion, self-doubt, the pressure to succeed, and financial uncertainty –– are normal emotions that many teens feel. So it’s often difficult to predict who may be at risk.

Many teen suicides may be preventable, and there are a number of warning signs
that can alert someone to seek professional help. Below is a list a few clues that
may show if someone you care about is considering suicide.
  • Change in eating and sleeping habits.
  • Withdrawing from friends, and family and regular activities.
  • Violent actions, rebellious behavior or running away.
  • Drug and alcohol use.
  • Unusual neglect of personal appearance.
  • Marked personality change.
  • Persistent boredom, difficulty concentrating or a decline in
    the quality of schoolwork.
  • Frequent complaints about physical symptoms, such as
    stomachaches, headaches, fatigue, etc.
  • Loss of interest in pleasurable activities.
  • Not tolerating praise or rewards.
  • Complaining of being "rotten inside."
  • Expressing suicidal thoughts, even jokingly.
  • Giving verbal hints with statements such as: "I will not be a
    problem for you much longer," "Nothing matters," "It's no
    use," "I will not see you again."
  • Putting affairs in order-for example, giving away favorite
    possessions, cleaning his or her room, throwing away
    important belongings, etc.
  • Suddenly becoming cheerful after a period of depression.

If someone you know says, "I want to kill myself," or "I'm going to commit
suicide," take the statements seriously and immediately seek the help of a trusted adult, such a teacher, nurse, parent or counselor. Experts feel it’s OK to ask a depressed teen if he or she is thinking about suicide. Asking this question
provides assurance that somebody cares and might give the young person the
opportunity to talk about problems. The death of a young person is always a
tragedy. It is an even greater tragedy when a teen takes his or her own life.

Source: TeenGrowth.com

< Back to Mind & Body main page