Lifeline Booklet 2021

Recognise

signs and behaviour changes

WHAT OTHER SIGNS COULD INDICATE SOMEONE MAY BE FEELING SUICIDAL? • Threatening to hurt or kill themselves • Seeking access to things they can use to kill themselves • Talking or writing about death, dying or suicide • Hopelessness, loss of purpose, despair • Rage, anger, seeking revenge • Acting recklessly or engaging in risky activities • Feeling trapped, like there’s no way out • Withdrawing from friends, family or society • Using words that suggest they are overwhelmed with life

No emotional crisis is more urgent than suicidal thoughts and behaviour. Like with a mental health crisis, signs may not be obvious, but there are certain signs and behaviours that may indicate that someone is thinking of suicide (aka suicide ideation). A majority of suicidal people communicate their suicidal thoughts by giving some sort of verbal or nonverbal clue about their intention to end their life. That means you could be in a position to guide someone to get help before they commit the one action that can never be taken back. They often send out signals and make statements about wanting to die, feeling useless and so on. 15

15 https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/67603/WHO_MNH_MBD_00.4.pdf

15 Accidental Counsellor