Recognizing the Warning Signs
- Talking about wanting to die, feeling hopeless, or being a burden
- Withdrawing from friends, family, or activities
- Major changes in sleep, mood, or behavior
- Increased alcohol or drug use
- Giving away possessions or saying goodbye
- Sudden calm after a period of distress
Suicide Prevention Awareness
Risk Factors
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Depression or other mental
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health conditions
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Past suicide attempts
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Recent loss, trauma, or major stress
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Social isolation
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Substance misuse
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Access to lethal means
Protective Factors
- Supportive relationships
- Access to mental health care
- Problem-solving and coping skills
-Â Feeling connected to school,work, culture, or community
- Reduced access to lethal means
What Not To Do
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Do not promise to keep suicidal thoughts secret
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Do not argue, shame, or minimize feelings
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Do not leave someone alone if there is immediate risk
Understanding the signs and knowing how to help can save lives. Our mission is to provide education, resources, and compassionate support to foster a community where no one struggles in silence.
Protective Factors
Protective factors are the strengths, supports, and resources that lower a person’s risk for suicide. They include caring relationships, access to mental health care, healthy coping skills, and a sense of hope and purpose. These supports don’t erase pain, but they can make it easier to stay safe and get help.​
Emotional and Behavioral Warning Signs
- Recognizing when someone is struggling can save a life. You might hear your loved one speak about wanting to disappear, feeling like they have no future, or believing that their absence would somehow make things easier for those they love. Watch for subtle or direct searches for harmful items, as well as expressions of feeling trapped in an emotional pain that seems inescapable. Their behavior may change noticeably; they might become unusually restless, aggressive, or withdrawn from the friends and activities they once enjoyed. Pay attention to significant shifts in sleep habits or energy levels—whether they are sleeping all day or unable to rest—as well as sudden, intense mood swings or a reliance on substances to cope. A person in crisis may experience deep irritability, talk about seeking revenge, or, unexpectedly, show a sudden sense of calm after a period of intense distress. If you notice these red flags in a friend or family member, please know that their pain is real, and reaching out with compassion is the first step toward safety.
What Can Increase Suicide Risk
Risk factors are characteristics or conditions that increase the chance that a person may try to take their life. Mental health conditions such as Depression, Substance use problems, Bipolar disorder, Schizophrenia, and Anxiety disorders are significant factors. Environmental factors like access to lethal means, stressful life events (loss of a loved one, divorce, job loss), and prolonged stress factors (harassment, bullying, relationship problems) also play a critical role.
How To Help
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Ask directly and calmly. Listen without judgment. Take it seriously. Stay with the person
if there is immediate danger. Help connect support by calling or texting 988, contacting
a mental health professional, or calling emergency services. Reduce access to lethal
means if it can be done safely.
You are not alone
Get Help Now
If there is immediate danger, call emergency services now.
In the U.S. and Canada, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Support is
free, confidential, and available 24/7.
Veterans can press 1 after calling 988. Spanish language support is available, and
videophone options are available for Deaf or Hard of Hearing users.