Bookmark and Share

Save. Suicide Awareness Voices of Education

What to Look For

Teens often change their behavior rapidly and unexpectedly, but depression and mental illness affects a person’s whole body and life.  If your friend is thinking, feeling, behaving, or acting abnormal at home, school, with other friends, or at work, there is a good chance that something is not right.  Knowing the warning signs of suicide is crucial, and can save a life.

 

Warning Signs of Suicide

teen4.JPG
  • Thinking, talking, or wishing about suicide.
  • Substance use or abuse (change in drug behavioral patterns).
  • Purposelessness—feeling like they do not belong.
  • Anger.
  • Feeling trapped, like there is no way out.
  • Hopelessness.
  • Withdrawal (from family, friends, hobbies, activities).
  • Recklessness.
  • Dramatic mood changes.

 

Warning Signs Specific to Teenagers:

  • Joking about suicide.
  • Giving away prized possessions.
  • Preoccupation with death/violence; TV, movies, drawings, books, at play, music.
  • Having several accidents resulting in injuries.
  • Obsession with guns and knives.
  • Previous suicidal thoughts or attempts.
 

Learn more about depression and teens!

 

It is normal for a person to feel some of the following symptoms from time to time, but experiencing them for more than two weeks could mean depression.

  • Feeling sad, numb, or empty.
  • Sleeping a lot or having trouble sleeping.
  • Repeatedly falling asleep in class; constantly feeling tired.
  • Feeling hopeless, helpless, worthless, or guilty.
  • Feeling angry or moody, crying easily, panic attacks.
  • Avoiding friends.
  • Increased irritability with friends and family.
  • Difficulty doing schoolwork.
  • Changed eating habits.
  • Reading books, watching movies, or listening to music with depressing or suicidal themes.
  • Difficulty remembering things or making decisions.

 

In addition to these symptoms, if your friend says some of the following, it could mean depression:

“I shouldn’t be here.”

“I’m going to run away.”

“I wish I were dead.”

“I’m going to kill myself.”

“I wish I could disappear forever.”

“If a person did this or that…would he/she die?”

“The voices tell me to kill myself.”

“Maybe if I died, people would love me more.”

“I want to see what it feels like to die.”

“My parents won’t even miss me.”

“My boy/girlfriend won’t care anyway.”

 

If your friend shows any of these signs or symptoms, it is important to remember that you CAN help them!  And remember, taking action is the next step.  Your friend is not alone, and neither are you.