Suicide is a major public health issue in India, with over 40% of Indian suicides being among those under 30 years old. There are many myths around suicide that are untrue - talking about suicide does not necessarily increase risk, and suicidal thoughts are often ambivalent rather than a firm decision. Risk factors include mental illness, substance abuse, life stressors, and access to lethal means. Warning signs can be emotional, behavioral or verbal and seeking help from a mental health professional is crucial when these signs appear. Preventing suicide involves addressing risk factors, offering social support, ensuring safety, and maintaining long-term support for at-risk individuals.

1. Understanding Suicide and its Symptoms
Suicide is fast becoming an increasing cause of
concern in India. Of the half million people dying of
suicide yearly worldwide, 20% are Indians, such that
every 5 minutes someone in this country intentionally
ends his/her life. Another myth is that youths do not
think about suicide. In fact, research shows that more
than 40% of Indian suicides are by those below 30
years of age. This brings in our mind the question: do
we actually understand the suicide mechanism? Let
us find out:

2. Myths versus Facts about Suicide:
MYTHS FACTS
People who talk about suicide don't
complete suicide.
Many people who die by suicide have
given definite clues and signs to family
and friends of their intentions. Always
take any comment about suicide seriously.
Suicidal people are fully intent on dying/
Once people decide to die by suicide,
there is nothing you can do to stop them
Suicide can be prevented. Most suicidal
people are undecided about living or
dying, which is called “suicidal
ambivalence.” A part of them wants to
live; however, death seems like the only
way out of their pain and suffering. They
may allow themselves to "gamble with
death," leaving it up to others to save
them

3. Men are more likely to be
suicidal.
Men are four times more
likely to kill themselves
than women. Women
attempt suicide three times
more often than men do.
Asking a depressed person
about suicide will push
him/her to complete
suicide.
Studies have shown that
patients with depression
have these ideas and
talking about them does
not increase the risk of
them taking their own life.

4. Improvement following a suicide
attempt or crisis means that the
risk is over.
Most suicides occur within days or
weeks of "improvement," when
the individual has the energy and
motivation to actually follow
through with his/her suicidal
thoughts. The highest suicide rates
are immediately after a
hospitalization for a suicide
attempt
Once a person attempts suicide,
the pain and shame they
experience afterward will keep
them from trying again.
The most common psychiatric
illness that ends in suicide is Major
Depression, a recurring illness.
Every time a patient gets
depressed, the risk of suicide
returns.

5. Only those who are mentally ill
are prone to suicide.
Those who are mentally ill are
more prone to suicide but those
without any mental illness may
also be driven to it following
situations such as a sudden
financial loss, sudden discovery of
a fatal illness, failure in exams,
etc.
Strong minds and confident
people never attempt suicide.
Only weak minds do.
Strong minds do not exist. Each
on of us can suffer from sadness
and depression, and attempt
suicide, though some are
definitely more vulnerable than
others.
A suicide attempt is aimed at
manipulating/ threatening others
and should be punished harshly.
An act of self-harm can be a cry
for help and should be tackled
sensitively.

6. Suicide only strikes
people of a certain
gender, race, financial
status, age, etc.
Suicide can strike
anyone.
Young people never
think of suicide, they
have their entire life
ahead of them.
Suicide is the second
leading cause of death
for young people aged
15-24. Sometimes,
children under the age
of 10 die by suicide too.

7. RISK FACTORS:
• Previous suicide attempt or
gesture
• Feeling of hopelessness or
isolation
• Psychopathology
(depressive disorders/mood
disorders)
• Parental psychopathology
• Substance abuse disorder
• Family history of suicidal
behavior

8. • Life stressors such as interpersonal
losses (relationship, social, work)and
legal or disciplinary problems
• Access to firearms
• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Conduct disorders or disruptive
behaviors
• Sexual orientation (homosexual,
bisexual, and trans-gendered youth)

9. • Juvenile delinquency
• School and/or work problems
• Contagion or imitation
(exposure to media accounts
of suicidal behavior and
exposure to suicidal behavior
in friends or acquaintances)
• Chronic physical illness
• Living alone and or runways
• Aggressive –impulsive
behaviors

10. PROTECTIVE FACTORS:
• Family cohesion(family with
mutual involvement, shared
interests and emotional support)
• Good coping skills
• Academic achievement
• Perceived connectedness to the
school
• Good relationships with other
school youth
• Lack of access to means for suicidal
behavior

11. • Help seeking behavior/advice seeking
• Impulse control
• Problem solving/conflict resolution abilities
• Social integration/opportunities to participate
• Sense of worth/ confidence
• Stable environment
• Access to and care for
mental/physical/substance
disorders
• Responsibilities for others/pets
• Faith

12. EARLY WARNING SIGNS:
• Withdrawal from friends
and family
• Preoccupation with death
• Marked personality change
and serious mood changes
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulties in
school(decline in quality of
work)

13. • Change in eating and sleeping
habits
• Loss of interest in pleasurable
activities
• Frequent complaints about
physical symptoms, often related
to emotions, such as
stomach aches, headaches,
fatigue etc.
• Persistent of interest in things
one cares about

14. LATE WARNING SIGNS
• Actually talking about suicide or a plan
• Exhibiting impulsivity such as violent
actions, rebellious behavior or running
away
• Refusing help, feeling “ beyond help”
• Complaining of being a bad person or
feeling “rotten inside”
• Making statements about hopelessness,
helplessness, or worthlessness.
• Not tolerating praise or rewards

15. • Giving verbal hints with statements such as:
• I won’t be a problem for you much longer,”
• “nothing matters,” “it’s no use,” and “I won’t
see you again”
• Becoming suddenly cheerful after a period of
depression this may mean that the student
has already made the decision to escapee all
problems by ending his/ her life
• Giving away favorite possessions
• Making a last will and testament.

16. Suicide prevention techniques
1: Speak up if you’re worried
If you spot the warning signs of suicide in
someone you care about, you may wonder if it’s a
good idea to say anything.
2: Respond quickly in a crisis
Those at the highest risk for committing suicide in
the near future have a specific suicide PLAN, the
MEANS to carry out the plan, a TIME SET for
doing it, and an INTENTION to do it.

17. 3: Offer help and support
If a friend or family member is suicidal, the best
way to help is by offering an empathetic,
listening ear. Let your loved one know that he or
she is not alone and that you care. Don't take
responsibility, however, for making your loved
one well. You can offer support, but you can't
get better for a suicidal person. He or she has to
make a personal commitment to recovery.

18. Helping a suicidal person:
Get professional help. Encourage the person to
see a professional, help locate a treatment facility.
Follow-up on treatment. If the doctor prescribes
medication, make sure your friend or loved one
takes it as directed.
Be proactive. Those contemplating suicide often
don't believe they can be helped, so you may
have to be more proactive at offering assistance.

19. Encourage positive lifestyle changes, such as a
healthy diet, plenty of sleep, and getting out in
the sun or into nature for at least 30 minutes
each day. Exercise is also extremely important as
it releases endorphins, relieves stress, and
promotes emotional well-being.
Make a safety plan. Help the person develop a
set of steps he or she promises to follow during a
suicidal crisis. Also include contact numbers for the
person's doctor or therapist, as well as friends and
family members who will help in an emergency.

20. Remove potential means of suicide, such as pills,
knives, razors, or firearms. If the person is likely to
take an overdose, keep medications locked away
or give out only as the person needs them.
Continue your support over the long haul. Even
after the immediate suicidal crisis has passed,
stay in touch with the person, periodically
checking in or dropping by. Your support is vital to
ensure your friend or loved one remains on the
recovery track.

21. Preventing Suicide – Some Strategies
TALK
• T – Teach them what you
believe
• A – Ask them questions
especially if they are having
problem sharing with you
• L – Listen to what the child
has to say
• K – Kindle a desire in your
teenager to ask your opinion

22. • Watch over teenagers, do not
leave them lonely
• Help them clear their
distortions about life
• Bring back hope
• Listen, show that you
truly care
• Help them open up and let
them express what they feel
• Assure them such feelings
are temporary and will pass

23. • Do NOT ridicule their feelings, argue or
find faults
• Keep guns, knives, blades, rope,
medication and other dangerous devices
away from them
• Assure the person that you are there

24. • Let there be more than one person to help
– guardian, friend, teacher or anyone the
person can trust
• Consult with a mental health professional
• Follow the person through with
appointments and medications
REMEMBER: Prevention may be a matter of a
caring person with the right knowledge being
available in the right place at the right time.