Warning Signs

Warning signs of suicide can be organized around the word “FACTS.”

Hopelessness: feeling like things are bad and won’t get any better
Fear of losing control, going crazy, harming himself/herself or others
Helplessness: a belief that there’s nothing that can be done to make life better
Worthlessness: feeling like an awful person and that people would be better off if he/she were dead
Hating himself/herself, feeling guilty or ashamed
Being extremely sad and lonely
Feeling anxious, worried, or angry all the time

Personality: behaving like a different person, becoming withdrawn, tired all the time, not caring about anything, or becoming more talkative or outgoing
Behavior: can’t concentrate on school or regular tasks
Sleeping pattern: sleeping all the time or not being able to sleep at all, or waking up in the middle of the night or early in the morning and not being able to get back to sleep
Eating habits: loss of appetite and/or overeating and gaining weight
Losing interest in friends, hobbies, and appearance or in activities or sports previously enjoyed
Sudden improvement after a period of being down or withdrawn

Statements like “How long does it take to bleed to death?”
Threats like “I won’t be around much longer” or “Don’t tell anyone else . . . you won’t be my friend if you tell!”
Plans like giving away favorite things, studying about ways to die, obtaining a weapon or a stash of pills: the risk is very high if a person has a plan and the way to do it.
Suicide attempts like overdosing, wrist cutting

Getting into trouble at school, at home, or with the law
Recent loss through death, divorce, or separation; the breakup of a relationship; losing an opportunity or a dream; losing self-esteem
Changes in life that feel overwhelming
Being exposed to suicide or the death of a peer under any circumstances