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The tragic results from suicide have taken the lives of someone in every age group, all races, both sexes, and every income bracket. In the United States suicide hit an all time high in 1932, during the last phases of the Depression, and in recent years has climbed to alarming proportions. Suicide has consistently been one of the leading causes of death for the last 100 years, especially among the elderly and teenagers.

Warning Signs
When someone may be thinking of killing him or herself, there are a number of possible warning signs, including the following:

  • Giving away prized possessions
  • Talk that suggests the person has developed a detailed plan to kill him or herself, such as buying a lethal weapon (a knife, gun, rope, or poison), jumping from a high place, or collecting pills
  • Loss of interest in usual activities
  • Trouble sleeping at night, waking early in the morning, or a constant tired feeling during the day.
  • Poor school work for no explainable reason.

Causes
People in danger of acting on suicidal thoughts are usually under a great deal of stress stemming from experiences like the loss of a spouse or loved one through divorce, separation or death; failure in school; losing a job; or suffering a humiliating incident. They begin to feel the stress will never let up and, as a result, suffer from a strong sense of depression or anxiety. Eventually, suicidal persons feel there is no reason to go on living, without proper intervention they end up taking their own lives.

Recommended Course of Treatment
If you think someone close to you may be thinking of killing himself or herself, immediately contact a trained mental health professional. Your local phone directory should have a listing of 24-hour emergency numbers under "Suicide" in the yellow pages section. If the person is on the verge of acting on an impulse to take his or her own life, call 911 or your local law enforcement agency.

To find more information on Behavior Management Systems services dealing with suicide, click on the following link:

Outpatient Counseling (however, this is not an emergency service)

If you or someone you know is currently contemplating suicide call your local law enforcement agency.