{"id":1144,"date":"2022-11-12T05:59:29","date_gmt":"2022-11-12T05:59:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mrarif.me\/telehelptoday\/?p=1144"},"modified":"2022-11-12T14:59:58","modified_gmt":"2022-11-12T14:59:58","slug":"what-to-know-if-a-loved-one-is-at-risk-for-suicide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/telehelptoday.com\/what-to-know-if-a-loved-one-is-at-risk-for-suicide\/","title":{"rendered":"What To Know If A Loved One Is At Risk For Suicide"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
Every year, over 500,000 people visit emergency rooms in the United States because they are thinking about suicide or have already self-harmed. Despite all of the care they received, they were still at an elevated risk of suicide a year after their visit.<\/p>
A suicide is a tragedy for not only the individual, but also their loved ones. After such an event, it’s common for family and friends to reflect on what role they could’ve played in prevention.<\/p>
Friends and loved ones often do not know what to do if they think someone they care about is suicidal. To help, here are some guideposts.<\/p>
It is difficult to predict when someone close to you might attempt suicide. If you are worried about someone, the best thing you can do is have a conversation with them and ask if they are thinking about harming themselves. You can also look for signs of suicidal thoughts or severe distress.<\/p>
When someone you care about says they feel like suicide is the only way out, it’s known as an express sign. Indirect indicators are more subtle \u2014 early warning signals that someone is getting worse. They may say things like, “Life isn’t worth living anymore,” or “I am worthless.” They may attempt to save up pills or get a weapon in order to commit suicide.<\/p>
After you have observed the harmful behavior, it is best to go directly to the patient and discuss what you saw. Then, you can reach out to their clinician or other help resources. If a clinician is not available, then try contacting someone respected by the patient that they feel close to and trust, like an authority figure or faith leader. With this approach, you will be able obtain more information to share with the treatment team which will be helpful in developing a care plan.<\/p>
When discussing suicide, remember the following:<\/p>
Naturally, things may get more difficult from time to time. What if you can’t be sure whether or not your family member is being honest with you? This (and other issues) certainly does occur. When you’re unsure, trust the treating physician’s advice.<\/p>