Suicide Prevention: 4 BIG MYTHS About Suicide

In honor of National Suicide Prevention Month, let’s bust some myths! There are so many.

Let’s debunk a really insidious one right off the bat.

1.     MYTH: Talking about suicide can cause someone to do it.

No.

Someone who feels desperate enough to kill themselves-- to override the incredibly strong human instinct to survive— will NOT attempt it because someone else mentions it, or “plants the idea.” They’ve been thinking about it very well by themselves, thank you. Often for a long time.

Depression, mental anguish, and feeling isolated are generally a big part of this picture. Carrying the secret of suicidality alone is unimaginably heavy.

For someone who is suicidal, being asked if they are feeling suicidal and talking about it can be a huge RELIEF. And step one for getting support.

2.     MYTH:  Suicide is the cowardly way out.

Frankly, it takes a ton of courage to kill yourself. So much so, that many people who want to die, end up not doing it, thankfully. Living with crushing depression, hopelessness, and too much pain takes so much strength and courage that eventually, sometimes, people just can’t hold on any longer. Suicide is cold hard proof that there are limits to human endurance.

Being suicidal is the result of being too strong, for too long, alone.

There is always a part of us, even if it has gotten very small, that wants to live. It’s a critical ambivalence.

Please ask for help. Please listen to someone who asks you for help.

If you or anyone you know are feeling suicidal—

Call this number: 988

3.     MYTH: You can’t stop someone who wants to do it.

Nonsense. The sooner we start to talk about it and look for ways to help, the more people we’ll stop from attempting.

Suicide is preventable with education and awareness, caring and connection.

4. MYTH: If someone is feeling acutely suicidal, there’s no way to know.

Someone feeling suicidal almost always gives clues and other warning signs. Here they are:

From the National Institute of Health and Human Services:

IS PATH WARM?

Ideation- threatened or communicated suicidality

Substance abuse- excessive or increased

Purposeless-No reasons for living

Anxiety – Agitation and insomnia

Trapped- Feeling there is no way out

Hopelessness

Withdrawing- From friends, family, society

Anger (uncontrolled)- rage, seeking revenge

Recklessness- Risky acts, unthinking

Mood changes- Dramatic

Even better and simpler—here’s how we assessed callers on the suicide crisis line:

DCI

Desire: Do they want to die?

Capability: Do they have a method or plan (that’s lethal)?

Intent: Are they intending to use it today (next 24 hours)?

If you or anyone you know is feeling suicidal, get help. It’s out there.

CALL 988

It’s anonymous. And confidential. Open 24/7.

If you are worried about a loved one, call 988. A huge proportion of calls come from those looking for guidance to help someone they’re worried about.

For LGBTQ young people, the TREVOR PROJECT is always there:

Text: 678-678

Call 1-866-488-7386

Or chat from your computer.

Who am I? An author of novels for young adults, a former suicide crisis line counselor, and a mental health advocate. Here’s my latest novel:

18-year-old crisis line volunteer Delilah’s beloved, terminally ill aunt’s final request challenges everything Del thought she knew about life and death.