Suicide. That one word brings up frightening thoughts and emotions in people. Sometimes, they do not know what to think or how to respond. Other times, they are taken back to a period when they, or a friend/family member, experienced suicidal thoughts, attempted suicide, or completed suicide.
People are experiencing increased stress due to the ongoing pandemic and the accompanying stay at home orders. They are unsure what the future will look like, creating worry due to the uncertainty. Parents are worried about their kids’ education, people are concerned whether their business will survive or if they will have a continued income, and there is anxiety about what the future even looks like. These worries are life-changing and can have a significant impact mentally, emotionally, and financially. The worries can feel suffocating, as if there is no escape from what could happen. As the stressors increase, and a solution seems impossible, some people might notice the appearance of suicidal thoughts.
Becoming aware of risk factors for suicide can help you identify them in yourself or others. Risk factors increase the likelihood a suicidal crisis might occur.
Hopelessness: When someone feels hopeless, their situation appears to have no possibility to improve. Negative life events seem endless and unavoidable. As the person continues to feel discouraged and defeated, solutions to improve their situation become clouded by their negative mood. When someone feels hopeless, how they perceive the world is impacted by their mood. Even positive or neutral experiences are overlooked and seen as something that further supports how things will never get better. When people are feeling hopeless, they may use absolute terms such as “never” and “always”.
Financial Strain: Economic insecurity is financial uncertainty for your basic needs such as food and shelter. This is a psychological state as well as a financial impact. Loss of jobs and businesses with the pandemic has placed many people in a position to be food insecure or unable to pay their rent/mortgage. They are also uncertain if they will have a job now or in the future.
Relationship Issues: Relationship issues include violence within a relationship, inability to find a relationship, and unhappiness in an existing relationship. The specific problems in the relationship and how they impact the individual varies between people.
Social Isolation: Social isolation is the lack of contact between an individual and society. This is an important risk factor during the pandemic and stay-at-home orders. Once social individuals who were able to interact with others at work, school, or outings are now forced to stay inside, sometimes alone. Social isolation can lead to feelings of loneliness and depression.
Misuse of Substances: During the pandemic, there is easy access to alcohol, and people can drink in the relative privacy of their own homes. Drug use might also increase as individuals don’t have to physically present to work or school.
Chronic Medical Conditions: Chronic medical conditions, including chronic pain, can lead to a feeling of hopelessness and depressed mood in individuals. The medical condition might also limit their ability to leave the house, be social, and work, leading to the presence of additional risk factors.
Mental Health Disorders: Mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and severe mental illness can all be risk factors for suicide. Untreated mental health conditions increase the impact of these disorders on the individual.
This list of risk factors is not all-inclusive and there is no one single predictor for suicide. Not all people will experience suicidal thoughts in their life. However, being aware of the risk factors allows you to start a conversation with someone sooner versus later.
If you notice risk factors in yourself or others, there are certain things you can do as a way to help.
ASK about suicide directly: If you are concerned that someone might be having suicidal thoughts, it is important to ask them directly if they are having thoughts about killing themselves. When you ask indirectly, it can give the impression that you are uncomfortable with the topic, and they should be as well. When questions are asked vaguely, it also leaves it up to interpretation by the other person and they may not answer the same question you were asking. A possible question you could ask is “Have you had thoughts of killing yourself?”.
Be Prepared for Their Response: If someone states they have been thinking about suicide, be prepared to be supportive. How you respond to the individual will impact what further information they provide to you. Try to be calm and remember help is available and you do not have to manage this alone.
Get Help: If you or someone you know has thoughts of suicide, help can be reached via 911, by presenting to the Emergency Room, or through various crisis lines. The Suicide Prevention Hotline can be reached at 1-800-273-8255. You can also text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor.
At Mindset Therapy we provide mental health services in Texas and Washington from trained professionals, via telepsychology, which allows you to attend the appointment from the location most convenient for you. Visit Mindset Therapy at https://www.mindsettherapyonline.com/ to learn more about the services offered and make an appointment. Also visit our YouTube page, Mindset Therapy, PLLC, for the Mental Health Minute series that provides quick pieces of information for common mental health issues.