Drug use and excessive alcohol use—which some agitated and anxious people turn to for relief—are warning signs for suicide, says Dr. Clayton. “You might not be an alcoholic or a drug abuser, but if you take things to make yourself feel better or to numb you, that makes you more vulnerable because it impairs your judgment and makes your thinking not as clear,” she says.
Substance use can also contribute to impulsivity, Dr. Clayton adds. Studies have shown that up to 80% of all suicide attempts are done on the spur of the moment, with very little planning.
Ken Robbins, MD, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin, in Madison, notes that about half of depressed people have “melancholic depression,” and are listless, fatigued, and have a loss of appetite.
The other half have “agitated depression.” Anxiety is the main symptom, says Dr. Robbins, but these people may also experience restlessness, difficulty sleeping, and trouble focusing.
“People who are agitated are more at risk for suicide because anxiety is so uncomfortable,” says Dr. Robbins.
7 of 9 Buying a firearm
One of the loudest and clearest warning signs is buying a gun. Access to a firearm in the home significantly increases the risk of a suicide—by up to 10 times, according to a 2008 article in the New England Journal of Medicine. Guns account for less than 10% of all suicide attempts, but those involving guns are far more likely to be fatal.
“Two to one, men complete suicide more often than women,” says Dr. Robbins. “And it’s largely because of the method they choose, not because of the intent that they have. Men tend to use firearms; women tend to take overdoses.”
8 of 9 Health problems
Although most people think teens are at higher risk of suicide than others in the population, it’s actually adults who are at greatest risk. In 2015, adults ages 45 to 64 had the highest suicide rate, at 19.6%, followed by adults 85 and older, who had a suicide rate of 19.4%, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Depression isn’t a normal part of aging, but a chronic health condition, a loss of independence, or problems with vision or hearing can increase the risk.
9 of 9 Internet searches
Signs that someone is considering suicide may also show up on a computer. For instance, a Web-browser history may show that a person has been researching suicide and ways to kill himself, Dr. Clayton says. “With a teen, especially, parents should be monitoring Facebook or MySpace,” she adds.
Asking about suicidal impulses does not “put ideas” in a person’s head, says Dr. Robbins. If you’re concerned about suicide, you need to ask the person about it directly. If the person has access to guns, medications, or other items that could be used for self-harm, get rid of them. Most importantly, you should contact a health professional.
