boyfriend or girlfriend. Teens who are depressed, in-
volved with alcohol or other drugs, or are victims of
physical, emotional, or sexual abuse have a higher po-
tential for suicide. There is also heightened risk for
those who have attempted suicide in the past or who
come from a home where someone has committed
suicide.
Research shows that adolescent females attempt
suicide more often than adolescent males, but that
males complete suicide at a higher rate. The most
likely reason for this is that males tend to choose
methods that are more lethal (e.g., gunshot, hanging,
automobile crash), whereas females often use meth-
ods that are considered less lethal (e.g., drug over-
dose, slashing of wrists, carbon monoxide poisoning).
The rates of attempted suicide among gay and
lesbian populations are two to six times greater than
suicide rates for the general population. These statis-
tics suggest that gay youth are at a greater risk for sui-
cide than their straight counterparts. Finally, suicide
risk is higher for teens who are gifted, have learning
disabilities, or are pregnant or responsible for a preg-
nancy.
Warning Signs of Suicide
Most people who are suicidal put out warning
signs to the public as a cry for help. They either di-
rectly or indirectly tell or show others about their sui-
cide plan. Direct verbal threats such as ‘‘I am going
to kill myself,’’ ‘‘I am going to swallow a bottle of aspi-
rin,’’ or ‘‘By the weekend I will be dead’’ leave nothing
to the imagination. These statements should be taken
seriously, no matter how overdramatic they may
sound, because very few people make such serious
statements for the sake of just being funny. Indirect
verbal threats are much more subtle and, therefore,
more difficult to pick up on. Indirect threats tend to
slide right into regular conversations and may easily
be overlooked if one is not aware of these subtle cues.
Statements such as ‘‘I hate my life,’’ ‘‘Sometimes I
wish I were dead,’’ or ‘‘I just can’t go on any longer’’
are all potential clues that someone may be thinking
about suicide and that should lead anyone hearing
the statement to act to prevent it.
In addition to direct and indirect verbal threats,
suicidal people often exhibit a number of behaviors
that serve as warning signs. Such signs include sudden
changes in behavior related to eating and sleeping
patterns, performance at school, physical appearance
and hygiene, participation in activities and hobbies,
and interactions with friends and family. When peo-
ple suddenly stop acting like themselves for days or
weeks, it is usually a signal that something has gone
wrong in their lives and that this behavior should be
examined further.
Teens who are making plans to die often try to tie
up loose ends before they attempt to take their own
life. They do this in a number of ways, including giv-
ing away the things that matter most to them, getting
their rooms organized and their lockers or work
spaces cleaned out, returning borrowed materials,
and paying loans. These behaviors are not suspicious
in and of themselves, but in combination with other
suicide warning signs, these acts may serve as signals
that the adolescent does not plan to be alive much
longer.
Finally, teens who suddenly become aggressive,
rebellious, or disobedient or who engage in risky or
self-destructive behavior are also exhibiting signs that
could be related to suicidal intent. These behaviors
should not be ignored.Actions to Take to Prevent Suicide
Adolescents who are suicidal need someone who
will talk with them openly and honestly, who will lis-
ten attentively, and who will find them the help that
they need. In order to help prevent a suicide from oc-
curring, one must be informed of the questions to ask
when suicide is suspected, the dos and don’ts of inter-
acting with a person contemplating suicide, and who
to contact for further assistance.
When signs of suicide have been observed, it is
important to reach out to the person to find out what
is going on. A good way to do this is by asking ques-
tions and listening attentively without making judg-
ments. The goal is to get the person who may be
considering suicide to talk about his or her problems
out in the open. Specifically, there are four important
questions that need to be asked directly: (1) Are you
thinking about killing yourself? (2) How do you plan
to do it? (3) When do you plan to do it? and (4) Where
do you plan to do it? Contrary to popular belief, such
candor will not give a person dangerous ideas or en-
courage a suicidal act. In fact, these questions not only
allow the helper to assess the danger so she knows
who to contact for further assistance, but also give the
helpee permission to talk about suicide and the
thoughts and problems that may be occurring. Such
action can be a relief to individuals who are sui-
cidal because it shows that someone is taking them
seriously.
Some important information to remember when
helping a person through a suicidal crisis is to remain
calm even if what is said is shocking, to remain posi-
tive and never give up hope, and to know one’s own
limits and when it is time to seek outside help. One
should never make promises to keep a person’s sui-
cide plans a secret. Instead, the helper should suggest
that the suicidal person turn to help from trusted398 SUICIDE