Understanding Risks, Signs, and The Importance of Talking About It
Overview & Importance
September is Suicide Prevention month and is recognized by many across the world. Suicide prevention is a vital part of acknowledging, caring for, and support individuals within our community that could be experiencing pain or be in crisis. Suicide prevention is about recognizing signs, noticing the struggle, offering hope and compassion, and connecting them with support. Often people believe we either need to avoid the conversation entirely or rather have the perfect words. I want to offer that the perfect words do not exist but rather showing up authentically, and a willingness to listen. Suicide impacts all people of various ages, genders, and races. Increasing your awareness of warning signs, your understanding of how to talk about it, and how to offer hope and presence will provide you tools to better understand and support those who may need additional support in your community.
Understanding Suicide Risk
Suicide is rarely the result of one isolated event (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2026). Risk can develop through a multitude of experiences, mental health concerns, stressors in personal life and environment, and if they have support. Risks does not automatically mean that a person will die by suicide but rather there are circumstances that place them at greater risk. An individual can experience hardship and difficulty and this does not automatically mean someone with attempt suicide.
Some circumstances associated with increased suicide risk:
- A previous suicide attempt
- Substance Use
- Depression
- Other mental health concerns
- Financial difficulties
- Conflict in interpersonal relationships
- Isolation and loneliness
- Family history of suicide
- Access to lethal means to suicide
Recognizing signs
It is important to increase your knowledge and awareness around warning signs for suicide. Below will be warning signs that are recognized by the National Institute of Mental Health and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Changes in Communication/Discussion of:
- Intense guilt or shame
- Feeling like a burden to others
- Direct communication about wanting to die (“everyone would be better off without me”, “Life is too much now”)
Changes in Feelings:
- Emptiness
- Hopeless
- No reason to live
- Trapped
- Intense sadness
- Intense anxiety
- Extreme anger or rage
- Unbearable pain (physical or emotional)
Behavioral Changes
- Making a plan (for suicide)
- Researching ways to die
- Withdrawing from friends, social activities, and family
- Saying/writing goodbye
- Giving items away
- Taking extra risks
- Extreme mood swings
- Eating/Sleeping less or more
- Using drugs or alcohol more often
It is important to note that not every individual will display one or more of these signs. Often individuals can continue their daily life and struggle silently. The best thing to do in this time is learn how to create a safe, and supportive environment that allows individuals to talk about their experiences and their struggles. I believe firmly in creating safe and supportive spaces for individuals that allow for open conversation rather than silence.
Talk about it
Discussing suicide can make individuals uncomfortable as it is a sensitive topic. There is a misconception that discussing or even saying the word can increase the risk or cause suicide. Discussing suicide does not increase the risk nor does it cause someone to attempt suicide. Creating space for someone to talk about it can normalize the conversation, and emotions being experienced. The conversation begins connection, and support between the individuals. Obtaining the knowledge and learning how to discuss suicide is a major portion of suicide prevention. It is challenging work as you will be faced with sitting in situations that often feel uncomfortable. You will be tasked with asking difficult questions, listening without judgment, acknowledging warning signs, and lastly understanding when extra support is required.
- Begin by showing a willingness to engage in conversation even before you are certain of suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Noticing changes in communication with tone and even hopeless language or behaviors consistent with withdrawal from previous interests and people.
- When beginning a difficult conversation remember to begin with compassion and understanding. You want to approach it with curiosity and not assumptions. You can try something like “Hey, I’ve notice lately you have not seemed like yourself. I truly care about you and wanted to check on you. How are you?”
- Do not immediately resort to finding the right answer or trying to solve their problems. Your role is to be an active listener to what they are experiencing. Listening to an individual allows space for their experience to exist and for trust to be built.
- If there are immediate safety concerns in answers you receive it is okay to directly ask about suicidal thoughts and intentions. Safety should always be considered when having difficult conversations. You would want to access for plans or intentions to attempt suicide and pay attention to if they have access to the means to carry out their plan. If you believe they are in immediate danger or in crisis stay with them until they are connected to emergency services.
- Offering hope and connection begins with staying with the individual showing that they are not alone in this. Other ways in which you can offer hope:
- Encouraging an individual to connect with mental health services in the area
- Connection with crisis support personnel
- Following up with that individual afterwards
Gentle Reminder:
Suicide Prevention is for everyone and begins with a willingness to listen, learn, and show compassion. Cere Counseling and Wellness believes that conversations around suicide and mental health should be prioritized and met with compassion, an open-mind, and lack judgment. As a practice we believe every life has value and purpose. As a therapist suicide prevention is a topic that I strive to reduce the stigma around while increasing awareness of its importance. I want to encourage those to meet this topic and conversation with compassion and courage. My faith shapes the way in which I approach and support conversations about the topic of suicide. Cere and I are founded in our biblical belief that God is beside and with those that are struggling, and broken-hearted. My hope for you after reading this is that you have greater awareness, and willingness to engage in these difficult conversations. If you or someone you love is struggling, we at Cere are here to provide a safe, supportive, and compassionate environment for listening, processing, and healing.
Psalm 34:18- The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
citations:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026, May 26). Risk and protective factors for suicide. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/risk-factors/index.html
National Institute of Mental Health. (2025). Warning signs of suicide (NIMH Identifier No. OM 25-4316). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/warning-signs-of-suicide