Support + Education

Suicide Prevention

If you or someone you know is having a mental health crisis, call or text 988 immediately. Chat is also available at 988Lifeline.org. No tiene que hablar inglés para recibir ayuda.

988 is the preferred, “no wrong door” platform to access crisis care countywide. Trained crisis counselors can help people experiencing suicidal thoughts, mental health crisis, substance use crises, or emotional distress through a call, text message, or chat. In Los Angeles County, 988 calls are handled by Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services

September is Suicide Prevention Month — a time to raise awareness and discuss this urgently important crisis. In addition to shifting public perception, NAMI uses this month to spread hope and vital information to people affected by suicide and suicidal ideation. Our goal is to ensure that individuals, friends, and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention and to seek help.

Suicidal thoughts, much like mental health conditions, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or background. While suicidal thoughts are common, they should not be considered normal, and they often indicate more serious issues.

%

4.8% of all adults experience thoughts of suicide

  • Male 22.8% 22.8%
  • Female 5.7% 5.7%

Although more women than men attempt suicide, men are 4x more likely to die by suicide.

(rate of death suicide per 100,000)

%

79% of all people who die by suicide are male

Know the Warning Signs

Distinguishing certain behaviors from possible signs of a mental illness isn’t always easy. There’s no simple test to label one’s actions and thoughts as mental illness, typical behavior, or the result of a physical ailment.

Common Signs of Mental Illness

Each illness has its own symptoms, but common signs of mental illness in adults and adolescents can include the following:

  • Excessive worrying or fear
  • Confused thinking and/or problems concentrating and learning
  • Extreme mood changes, including uncontrollable “highs” or feelings of euphoria
  • Prolonged and/or strong feelings of irritability or anger
  • Feeling excessively sad or low
  • Confused thinking and/or problems concentrating and learning
  • Extreme mood changes, including uncontrollable “highs” or feelings of euphoria
  • Avoiding friends and social activities
  • Changes in sleeping habits and/or feeling tired and low energy
  • Difficulty perceiving reality (delusions or hallucinations, in which a person experiences and senses things that don’t exist in objective reality)
  • Inability to perceive changes in one’s own feelings, behavior, or personality (“lack of insight” or anosognosia)
  • Multiple physical ailments without obvious causes (such as headaches, stomach aches, and vague and ongoing “aches and pains”)
  • Thinking about suicide

  • Inability to carry out daily activities or handle daily problems and stress

  • An intense fear of weight gain or concern with appearance

  • Prolonged and/or strong feelings of irritability or anger

  • Difficulties understanding and/or relating to other people

  • Changes in eating habits such as increased, or lack of, appetite

Common Signs of Mental Illness in Children and Young Adults

Mental health conditions can also begin to develop in young children. Because they’re still learning how to identify and talk about thoughts and emotions, children’s most obvious symptoms are behavioral. Symptoms in children may include the following:

  • Changes in school performance
  • Excessive worry or anxiety; for instance,
    fighting to avoid bed or school
  • Hyperactive behavior
  • Frequent nightmares
  • Frequent disobedience or aggression
  • Frequent temper tantrums

Annual prevalence of serious thoughts of suicide, by U.S. demographic group:

  • All adults 4.8% 4.8%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native 8.5% 8.5%
  • Mixed/Multiracial 8.2% 8.2%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native 8.5% 8.5%

If Someone Tells You They’re Thinking About Suicide

Let’s say you’re having an open, honest conversation with someone about mental health and they feel comfortable enough with you to reveal that they’re having thoughts of suicide. You probably feel an immense amount of pressure. How should you respond? What can you do to connect them to help?

First of all, realize that someone opening up in this way is a positive thing, because it’s an opportunity to help. Here are some ways you can respond.

1. Let them know you’re listening

First of all, reassure them you hear what they’re saying, and that you’re taking them seriously.

2. Show your support

In your own way, make sure they know you’re there with them, and that you care.

3. Encourage them to keep talking – and really listen

Let them know you want to hear more about how they’re feeling, and what they’re going through. Listen actively by expressing curiosity and interest in the details.

4. Ask them about changes in their life and how they are coping

Find out how long it’s been that the person has been feeling this way, and any changes it’s caused in their life.

5. Be direct if you suspect they’re thinking about suicide

If you think someone’s thinking about suicide, trust your gut and ask them directly. Research shows it will not put the idea in their head, or push them into action. Often, they’ll be relieved someone cares enough to hear about their experience with suicidal thoughts.

6. What can you say if they tell you they’re thinking about killing themselves?

Stay calm – just because someone is having thoughts of suicide, it doesn’t mean they’re in immediate danger. Take the time to calmly listen to what they have to say, and ask some follow-up questions.

 

Reassure them that help is available, and that these feelings are a signal that it’s time to talk to a mental health professional.

7. Follow their lead, and know when to take a break

This is a tough conversation to have, so make sure the other person knows they can stop if it feels like talking about it is too hard for them at the moment.

8. How to suggest they could benefit from professional help

You are being a great person in having this supportive conversation – but you’re not a mental health professional. If the person you care about has told you they’re thinking of suicide, it’s a warning sign that they should speak with a mental health professional. Here’s how you can broach the subject.

9. Help them connect

Sometimes making that first moment of contact to professional help can be the hardest. Offer to help them connect in whatever way you’re comfortable with.

10. If they’re concerned about privacy

If the person is worried about others finding out that they’re getting treatment, let them know their worries are mostly unfounded.

 

If they ask you not to tell anyone, tell them you want to help them get the support they need – and that may involve enlisting the help of others. Encourage them to be part of the conversation that happens in reaching out for help, and reassure them you’ll be as discreet as possible in your effort to keep them safe.

11. What if they refuse?

Not everyone is ready right away. If someone you know is struggling refuses your suggestion of professional help (and if they aren’t in immediate danger, i.e. that they are not presently self-harming or about to), be patient and don’t push too hard.

 

You can also offer to speak with their primary care provider as a gentle next step – family and friends can provide information to health care providers (HCPs) without expecting a call back or for the HCP to provide any confidential health information back.

12. When the convo’s winding down…

End the conversation by reiterating that you are so glad for the chance to connect on this deeper level about such meaningful things in life. Remind them that we all have challenges at times, and that you’ll continue to be there for them.

Recursos de Suicidio en Español

El comportamiento suicida o los pensamientos suicidas son dañinos y peligrosos, y por tal razón son considerados una emergencia psiquiátrica. Tener pensamientos suicidas no significa ser débil o tener mal carácter. Alguien que tenga estos tipos de pensamientos debe buscar asistencia inmediata de un proveedor médico o de salud mental. Siga leyendo para conocer recursos que pueden ayudar:

Signos de Alerta de una Crisis de Salud Mental

La presencia de cualquiera de estos síntomas, o todos, no significa que tu ser querido esté intentando suicidarse, ni que lo haya pensado. Lo que estas señales demuestran es que tu ser querido está pasando por un momento difícil, y por ende, es hora de actuar.

 

Las Señales de Advertencia de Suicidio

El riesgo potencial de suicidio es mayor cuando surge un nuevo comportamiento o este se vuelve más recurrente, especialmente si tu ser querido está pasando por un momento doloroso, una pérdida o un cambio. Presta atención a esos comportamientos y no dudes en hacer preguntas.

 

Cómo Lidiar con una Crisis de Salud Mental

Cuando las cosas van bien, crea un plan de lo que debes hacer. Las crisis pueden ocurrir cuando menos las esperas, y estar preparado en lugar de improvisar bajo el estrés, puede hacer una gran diferencia.

 

988 Lifeline

988 Lifeline ofrece servicios gratuitos en español las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana. No tiene que hablar inglés para recibir ayuda.

 

Recursos de NAMI GLAC

¿Quieres conocer y hablar con otras personas? Los grupos de apoyo de NAMI están dirigidos por pares y ofrecen a los participantes la oportunidad de compartir sus experiencias y obtener el apoyo de otros asistentes:

  • Grupo de Apoyo para Familiares de NAMI es un grupo de familias gratuitos, confidenciales y seguros que ayudan a otras familias que viven con problemas de salud mental utilizando sus experiencias colectivas vividas y la sabiduría grupal aprendida. Encuentra tu grupo aquí.
  • NAMI Conexión es un grupo de apoyo para personas que viven con problemas de salud mental. Los grupos de apoyo de NAMI son gratuitos, están dirigidos por pares y siguen un modelo estructurado para garantizar que usted y otros miembros del grupo tengan la oportunidad de ser escuchados y obtener lo que necesitan. Encuentra tu grupo aquí.
El 988 siempre está listo para ayudayr

In the U.S., suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10-14, the 3rd leading cause of death among those aged 15-24, and the 12th leading cause of death overall.

%

Young adults aged 18-25

%

High school students

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are 4x more likely to attempt suicide than straight youth.

Additional Resources

LA County Department of Mental Health Resources

Another source of support is the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH), which offers an array of resources for individuals and families:

  • LACDMH ACCESS Center: Call 800-854-7771, 24 hours/day, 7 days/week | The ACCESS Center is the entry point for mental health services in Los Angeles County, including deployment of crisis evaluation teams, information and referrals, gatekeeping of acute inpatient psychiatric beds, interpreter services, and client transport.
  • Service Locator: use this tool to find urgent cares, crisis services, 24 Hour/Residential centers, and outpatient clinics throughout Los Angeles County.
  • Service Area Navigators: navigators assist individuals and families in accessing mental health and other supportive services, as well as with community-based organizations.
  • Alternative Crisis Response (ACR): learn about the ways DMH works to defuse behavioral health crises with the support of mental health experts, rather than solely through law enforcement, thereby preventing avoidable consequences of a police encounter, including preventable use of force, arrest, conviction and/or incarceration.
  • Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) Program: the AOT program serves persons with serious mental illness at substantial risk of deterioration as a direct result of poor psychiatric treatment compliance. AOT eligible individuals are outreached in an effort to voluntarily engage them in Full Service Partnership (FSP) services.

Relevant Blogs About Suicide Prevention

The NAMI Blog features content related to our awareness events. Be sure to visit the NAMI Blog at nami.org/Blog and look for posts on our social media channels featuring quotes from our authors.

Get Inspired by NAMI.org Personal Stories

NAMI National features personal stories of lived experience on their website at nami.org and on their social media channels. By sharing those stories, we aim to highlight the importance of mental health in all communities and to make people feel less alone in their mental health journeys.

Videos

NAMI’s website features videos from people sharing their stories of lived experience, such as NAMI Support Groups: A Safe Space, a video about the powerful and positive impact that NAMI support groups have on their lives and Surviving Loss: A Father’s Journey about NAMI Michigan’s executive director, Kevin Fischer, and his journey of finding NAMI and his purpose — to take on stigma and address men’s mental health. Look for additional content to be uploaded to our YouTube channel throughout the month.

Skip to content