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Warning Signs and Risk and Protective Factors

Websites

National Organizations and Federal Agencies

American Association of Suicidology

AAS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the understanding and prevention of suicide. This site is designed as a resource for anyone concerned about suicide, including AAS members, suicide researchers, therapists, prevention specialists, Survivors of Suicide Loss, and people who are themselves in crisis. You will also find a National Directory of Support Groups for Survivors of Suicide Loss on this site at  Suicidology Suicide Support Group Directory
 

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

AFSP was founded in 1987 by concerned scientists, business and community leaders, and Survivors of Suicide Loss in an effort to support the research and education needed to prevent suicide. This organization also offers educational programs and conferences for survivors, mental health professionals, physicians, and the public. This site contains a section dedicated to survivor support including a current list of support groups throughout the United States.
 

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of americans affected by mental illness. NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, supports and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raise awareness and build a community of hope for all of those in need.
 

National Institute of Mental Health

The mission of NIMH is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery, and cure.
 

Our Side of Suicide

This is a Blog and Website of Resources dedicated to helping survivors navigate the aftermath of a suicide loss.   Jessica, Lindsay and Becky met through Catholic Charities’ Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide  support group in Chicago after losing their fathers to suicide within five months of each other. Each had  the desire to elevate the discussion about suicide in an attempt to give a voice to those seeking support  and encouragement.
 

Suicide Awareness Voices of Education

The mission of SAVE is to educate about suicide and to speak for suicide survivors.
 

Suicide Prevention Resource Center

Provides technical assistance, training, and materials to increase the knowledge and expertise of suicide prevention practitioners and other professionals serving people at risk for suicide. Also promotes collaboration among a variety of organizations that play a role in developing the field of suicide prevention.

A Handbook for Survivors of Suicide, from American Association of Suicidology

• A Handbook for Survivors of Suicide, from American Association of Suicidology (English)

• A Handbook for Survivors of Suicide, from American Association of Suicidology (Spanish)

Local Resources

National Alliance on Mental Illness/ San Diego

Sharing of information and striving to end the stigma associated with mental illness. We offer a Helpline, support groups, educational meetings, newsletters, a lending library and a number of classes on mental illness held at various locations throughout San Diego County.

UMTR2ME

You Matter to Me, is a life-changing and lifesaving not for profit organization that provides quality hope, support, encouragement, education and resources to individuals struggling with depression, mental health challenges, thoughts of suicide as well as those who’ve attempted suicide, in addition to supporting their family and friends.

The Compassionate Friends

Compassionate Friends is an international self-help support organization that offers friendship, understanding, and hope to bereaved parents, grandparents and siblings. There is no religious affiliation and there are no membership dues or fees. The mission of The Compassionate Friends is to assist families toward the positive resolution of grief following the death of a child of any age and to provide information to help others be supportive.

Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program

The Light For Life International is dedicated to saving lives through the use of the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program to eliminate youth suicide. This very informative site was lovingly founded by survivor parents in memory of their son, Mike Emme.

North County Support Group for Bereaved Parents

This free drop-in group in Carlsbad is for bereaved parents who have had a child of any age die from any cause. The meeting is at The Elizabeth Hospice, located at 5938 Priestly Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008, on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays every month from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. For more information about The Center for Compassionate Care, please call (760) 796-3724

Friends For Survival

Friends For Survival, Inc. is an organization of people who have been affected by a death caused by suicide. We are dedicated to providing a variety of peer support services that comfort those in grief, encourage healing and growth, foster the development of skills to cope with a loss and educate the entire community regarding the impact of suicide.

Grieving Dads

This project is designed to reach out to all bereaved dads and to provide a conduit to share their stories. One of my goals is to bring awareness to the impact that child loss has on fathers and to let society know that it’s okay for a father to grieve the loss of a child. A father shouldn’t have to hide his pain or feel ashamed to show his emotions.

Other Local Suicide Loss Support Groups

UCSD VA Survivors of Suicide Support Group

VA Medical Center, La Jolla, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive La Jolla, CA 92161.
The first Wednesday of the month throughout the year from 5-6:30 pm.

Aftershock Suicide Loss: A faith-based support group

Rock Church
2277 Rosecrans Street Room 212
San Diego, CA 92106
1st and 3rd Tuesdays 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Contact Michele Madden, Facilitator at aftershock@sdrock.com

Survivors of Suicide: A faith-based support group

North Coast Church, Vista, Tower 6
2405 N. Santa Fe Avenue
Vista, CA 92084
1st Thursday each month 7:30 to 9 pm
Contact Amy D’Arcy Bush, Facilitator at darcy3@sbcglobal.net

Help Outside the United States

Befrienders Worldwide

To find a suicide helpline outside the U.S.   Site down intermittently. Check back.

Canadian Association of Suicide Prevention

The Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP) provides information and resources to reduce the suicide rate and minimize the harmful consequences of suicidal behaviour.

International Association for Suicide Prevention

The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) is dedicated to preventing suicidal behavior, alleviating its effects, and providing a forum for academics, mental health professionals, crisis workers, volunteers and suicide survivors.

Email Support Groups and Chat Rooms

GriefNet.org

GriefNet.org is an Internet community of persons dealing with grief, death, and major loss.

Suicide Prevention

American Indian/Alaska Native

Suicide Prevention.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Suicide Prevention

Helpguide.org

How to help someone who is suicidal.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

From time to time you may encounter a person who is expressing thoughts of suicide on your social media sites. What you can do to help someone else online

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for the Hearing Impaired

Suicide Prevention Resource Center – Suicide Prevention Basics

Suicide Prevention Resource Center

Provides technical assistance, training, and materials to increase the knowledge and expertise of suicide prevention practitioners and other professionals serving people at risk for suicide. Also promotes collaboration among a variety of organizations that play a role in developing the field of suicide prevention.

Warning Signs and Risk and Protective Factors

Know the Warning Signs

How do you remember the Warning Signs of Suicide?

Here’s an Easy-to-Remember Mnemonic:
IS PATH WARM?

I – Ideation
S – Substance Abuse

P – Purposelessness
A – Anxiety
T – Trapped
H – Hopelessness

W -Withdrawal
A – Anger
R – Recklessness
M – Mood Changes

A person in acute risk for suicidal behavior most often will show:

Warning Signs of Acute Risk:

• Threatening to hurt or kill him or herself, or talking of wanting to hurt or kill him/herself; and/or,
• Looking for ways to kill him/herself by seeking access to firearms, available pills, or other means; and/or,
• Talking or writing about death, dying or suicide, when these actions are out of the ordinary.

These might be remembered as expressed or communicated Ideation.  If observed, seek help as soon as possible by contacting a mental health professional or calling 1-800-237- TALK (8255) for a referral.

Additional Warning Signs:

• Increased substance (alcohol or drug) use
• No reason for living; no sense of purpose in life
• Anxiety, agitation, unable to sleep or sleeping all the time
• Feeling trapped – like there’s no way out
• Hopelessness
• Withdrawal from friends, family and society
• Rage, uncontrolled anger, seeking revenge
• Action reckless or engaging in risky activates, seemingly without thinking
• Dramatic mood changes.

These might be remembered as expressed or communicated Ideation.  If observed, seek help as soon as possible by contacting a mental health professional or calling 1-800-237- TALK (8255) for a referral.

These warning signs were compiled by a task force of expert clinical researchers and ‘translated’ for the general public.

What To Do

Here are some ways to be helpful to someone who is threatening suicide:

• Be direct. Talk openly and matter-of-factly about suicide.
• Be willing to listen.  Allow expression of feelings.  Accept the feelings.
• Be non-judgmental.  Don’t debate whether suicide is right or wrong, or whether feelings are good or bad.  Don’t lecture on the value of life.
• Get involved.  Become Available.  Show interest and support.
• Don’t dare him or her to do it.
• Don’t act shocked.  This will put distance between you.
• Don’t be sworn to secrecy. Seek support
• Offer hope that alternatives are available but do not offer glib reassurance.
• Take action.  Remove means, such as guns or stockpiled pills.
• Get help from persons or agencies specializing in crisis intervention and suicide prevention.

Be Aware of Feelings

Many people at some time in their lives think about completing suicide.  Most decide to live because they eventually come to realize that the crisis is temporary and death is permanent.  On the other hand, people having a crisis sometimes perceive their dilemma as inescapable and feel an utter loss of control.  These are some of the feelings and thoughts they experience:

• Can’t stop the pain
• Can’t think clearly
• Can’t make decisions
• Can’t see any way out
• Can’t sleep, eat or work
• Can’t get out of depression
• Can’t make the sadness go away
• Can’t see a future without pain
• Can’t see themselves as worthwhile
• Can’t get someone’s attention
• Can’t seem to get control

If you experience these feelings, get help!

If someone you know exhibits these symptoms, offer help!

Contact:

• A community mental health agency
• A private therapist or counselor
• A school counselor or psychologist
• A family physician
• A suicide prevention or crisis center

Risk Factors

A combination of individual, relational, community and societal factors contribute to the risk of suicide.  Risk factors are those characteristics associated with suicide – they may or may not be direct causes.

Risk Factors

• Family history of suicide
• Family history of child maltreatment
• Previous suicide attempt(s)
• History of mental disorders, particularly clinical depression
• History of alcohol and substance abuse
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Impulsive or aggressive tendencies
• Cultural and religious beliefs (e.g., belief that suicide is noble resolution of a personal dilemma)
• Local epidemics of suicide
• Isolation, a feeling of being cut off from other people
• Barriers to accessing mental health treatment
• Loss (relational, social, work, or financial)
• Physical illness
• Easy access to lethal methods
• Unwillingness to seek help because of the stigma attached to mental health and substance abuse disorders or to suicidal thoughts.

Protective Factors for Suicide

Protective factors buffer individuals from suicidal thoughts and behavior.  To date, protective factors have not been studied as extensively or rigorously as risk factors.  Identifying and understanding protective factors are, however, equally as important as researching risk factors.

Protective Factors

• Effective clinical care for mental, physical, and substance abuse disorders
• Easy access to a variety of clinical interventions and support for help-seeking
• Family and community support (connectedness)
• Support from ongoing medical and mental healthcare relationships
• Skills in problem-solving, conflict resolution, and nonviolent ways of handling disputes
• Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide and support instincts for self-preservation

(U.S. Public Health Service 1999)

From CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/suicide/riskprotectivefactors.html