Preventing Suicide

If you or someone else is at risk of or has thoughts of suicide or self-harm, contact the National Suicide and Crisis Line by calling or texting 988 or text “HOME” to 741741. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room. There are trained professionals who will help you during times of crisis and help you find ongoing support.

What's on this page:

• Risk factors for suicide
• Strategies to prevent suicide
• Helping coworkers
• If you've lost someone to suicide

You don't have to be a professional counselor to check on someone who is showing signs of struggling with suicidality. You can potentially save a life by understanding the signs of someone contemplating self-harm or suicide and learning the ways you can talk with them about it.

Risk factors for suicide

To address suicide, we must first understand it by learning about its potential risk factors.

Individual risk factors

• Previous suicide attempt(s)
• History of mental disorders, particularly clinical depression
• History of alcohol and substance abuse
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Impulsive or aggressive tendencies
• Loss (relational, social, work or financial)
• Illness and disability, including but not limited to loss of physical or mental functioning
• Recent diagnosis of terminal illness
• Easy access to lethal objects (firearms, prescription medication, sharp objects, etc.)
• Major life changes

Relationship risk factors

• Family history of suicide
• Family history of child maltreatment
• Feelings of isolation or being cut off from other people
• Major relationship changes (divorce, separation, death of a spouse, etc.)

Community risk factors

• Local epidemics of suicide
• Barriers to accessing mental health treatment
• Lack of community resources
• Systemic barriers like intergenerational poverty and trauma

Societal risk factors

• Easy access to lethal methods
• Cultural and religious beliefs (e.g., belief that suicide is a noble resolution of a personal dilemma or belief that older people have little value to the community)
• Unwillingness to seek help because of the stigma attached to mental health and substance abuse disorders or suicidal thoughts

Strategies to prevent suicide

Use the suggestions below to support someone who might be suicidal.

Look for warning signs. Know what to look out for to identify if someone wants to hurt themself.

• Talking about wanting to die or ways to take their life.
• Looking for a way to kill themselves, like searching online or buying a gun.
• Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.
• Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.
• Talking about being a burden to others.
• Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs.
• Acting anxious or agitated.
• Behaving recklessly.
• Sleeping too little or too much.
• Withdrawing or isolating themselves.
• Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.
• Extreme mood swings.

Empathize and listen. Take them seriously and listen carefully without judgment. Reassure them that you're here to help. Say something like, "I can imagine how tough it is to feel like this. I want to help." Let them know you'll reach out for help. Say something like, "I'm glad you told me about this. I care about you too much to not get you help." Summarize what they shared and show your support. Say something like, "That sounds hard, and I am here for you."

Ask about suicide. It's a myth that asking someone about suicide might lead them to it. In fact, asking might be the very thing that prevents it. If you notice any warning signs, directly ask, "Are you thinking about killing yourself?" Make sure to ask in a way that results in an honest answer. Never phrase your question in a way that makes them feel pressured to say "no."

Remove the danger. Respectfully ask if you can help them through the crisis by removing any threats from their home or work area. Removing the deadly means by removing or locking up firearms and safely storing medications, drugs, alcohol, and sharp objects.

Know what to do next. If someone is thinking about suicide, be prepared with information on how to connect them to help. They may know who they want to talk to—their doctor, therapist, or a close friend or family member.

Call 988. This National Suicide and Crisis Line provides 24/7 free and confidential support and resources for loved ones, colleagues, and professionals who want to support someone in crisis.

• Press 1 for the Veterans Helpline.
• Text the word HOME to 741741 and start a chat.
• Teens can ask to talk to a peer at 1-866-TEENLINK (1-866-833-6546).

Helping coworkers

People often try to keep their private lives separate from work. However, coworkers are essential in supporting a person in crisis. They may be the first people to notice changes in behavior that suggest risk for suicide. While you have no formal responsibility to intervene, you may worry about someone and wonder what you could do to help.

Use the suggestions below to help a coworker at risk of suicide.

Reach out to them. If you notice any of the previously mentioned warning signs or just have a gut feeling that someone is not doing well, contact them. Ask the person directly how they are doing. If they share any feelings or thoughts of suicide, offer to get them connected to help from the 988 National Suicide and Crisis Line. You can call the lifeline and stay with them while they talk to a counselor. Your coworker might not report any feelings of suicide when you check in with them. In that case, you can encourage them to get free, confidential help by calling us at 877-313-4455.

Tell others about your concern. If you find out a coworker is feeling suicidal or having thoughts of suicide, it is appropriate to elevate your concerns. Suicide risk is not something to keep secret. Contact your human resources office, supervisor, or manager for help. Provide any useful background information. You can also call us at 877-313-4455 to get confidential advice on what to do.

Stay in touch with your coworker. Keep in touch with your coworker and continue to provide nonjudgmental support. However, if you feel that your coworker is leaning on you too much and needs more support than you can provide, get help from your human resources office and management or contact us.

Avoid common mistakes. If you notice signs that a coworker might attempt suicide, pay attention to the following:

• Don't ignore your gut if something seems wrong with a coworker.
• Don't gossip by talking about them behind their back with other coworkers—notifying a supervisor or HR is not gossip.
• Don't let them go home without taking action. They need to have a safety plan—something a professional counselor or the 988 National Suicide and Crisis Line can help them create.

If you've lost someone to suicide

Losing someone to suicide can be incredibly painful, but you are not alone. We're here for you. We offer free and confidential counseling. Request a counseling appointment or call us at 877-313-4455.

Learn more about understanding suicide.

For HR & managers

If need help addressing a loss with your team, request an HR & manager consultation.