Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Things You’ll Need:
- Contact information of your local hospital and/or mental health clinic, telephone
How to determine if somebody is suicidal.
Step1
In everyday life people undergo many events and thoughts which may lead to feelings of worthlessness, increased stress and confusion. People often have nowhere to turn if they are experiencing mental and emotional pain. Suicidal feelings are difficult to spot due to the internal nature of the problem. However, if you feel that a person in your life may be in trouble there are several signs you can look for which, if spotted quickly, can avert disaster. The first step in this process is to look for symptoms of depression which include bizarre sleep habits, frequent weight gain or loss, and loss of interest in social activity. Other indicators include agitation, substance abuse and lack of pleasure in previously enjoyed activity. If you try to engage the individual in conversation they may be hesitant to discuss feelings or possibly overly excited to discuss a suicide plan. If this is the case call 911 or your local mental health center immediately. Please note, if you encounter a person who is actively engaged in self-mutilation or readily willing to discuss a method to harm themselves you must call for help. This point cannot be stressed enough.
Step2
Next, if you encounter an individual who is reluctant to discuss feelings but you suspect that this person could become suicidal do your best to engage them in conversation. However, do not press the issue but try to gain as much information as you can without upsetting the person. Also, use the information you may already have if you have previously known the individual. For example, ask if there is a history of mental illness in the family or if any family members have had suicidal thoughts before. Secondly, discuss the social life of the person. Perhaps he/she has gone through a difficult break-up or divorce, maybe there has been a financial problem, feelings of guilt or recent loss of a loved one. Ask if the individual has attempted suicide before, and if so, what was the method. Please note, if in your discussion you reach a point where the individual has admitted previous suicide attempts and appears to be depressed you must call for help from your local mental health center. This is an indication that another attempt, while not certain, is highly possible. However, if you do not get a sense of this from the person and no previous attempts are discussed or noted you should begin free associating in your conversation. Free association is basically asking questions of the individual which relate to the future. For example, you could ask about plans for a future birthday gift, vacation or anything that involves the person existing in the future. A good question to ask would be about current living arrangements/conditions and if the person wishes to change them. If you get responses that do not involve the person existing in the future or the person refuses to answer or becomes withdrawn, it is again time to call for help.
Step3
After your discussion with the person, if you get a sense that no immediate risk exists it is time to gather information. Call friends, family members or even the local health department to locate a mental health treatment facility or counselor. When you locate appropriate treatment go with the person to make an appointment for an intake assessment with a professional. Do not let them do this alone because the chances are that the person will not have the necessary support to make this step. This point is crucial. Our society stigmatizes mental health treatment and much support is needed to make the first appointment. However, if after your discussion you are left feeling worried about the individual or have a good idea that danger is imminent call 911 immediately and let professional clinicians intervene.
How to Determine if Somebody is Suicidal.
Novice 
