Suicide prevention

[Rahab]

A friend of mine committed suicide a few years ago. He had an extremely painful physical disease. That's right--it wasn't *revolting saccharine commercial voice* "depression hurts." He could not get adequate relief from the medical community--instead he was shuffled from pillar to post, he lost his job, his home, and his life savings was poured into the pockets of those who should have helped him in his sufferings but instead "protected" him from the pain medicines that would have allowed him to continue a near-normal life because they were "protecting" him from addiction, and said so frequently.

It would quite relate to WHY my mother chose suicide. If her pain was not physical, in her moments of lucidity she in fact became aware that her life long mental agony was a permanant condition without any prospect of improvement. In fact, the opposite. In some ways, I "protected" her from the only "treatment" that would have kept her alive ,that is : to be institutionalized until her natural death.

The "addiction" mentality you refer to IMO is mostly prompted by legislators who have absolutly NO business restricting health care providers from prescribing higher dosages of palliative therapeutic drugs. The real issue is the absurdity of a legislature meaning to restrict the amount of controlled substances any person may posess without any differenciation between illegal drugs and pharmaceutical products meant to control pain. That is the case in the State of Florida.(I am currently working on addressing that issue to our new Governor and educating other Florida residents so that they may contact their respective state legislator).

Currently, we have a man who was sentenced for some 25 years of criminal internment in a Florida penitenciary for being found guilty of illegal posession and traficking of controlled substances. Reality check : he was reduced to obtain multiple pain prescriptions from various physicians in order to meet the daily dosage he required to control pain. Because his dosage was so high, the court concluded that he could only be trafficking by reselling his drugs "on the streets".

I don't think that one can neatly write off all suicide to "depression." Yeah, Allan was depressed at not getting any relief from near 24 hr a day severe pain that kept him from having a life and made him lose his job and everything he had worked for, and outraged, and humiliated. Uh.....who wouldn't be? But y'know, this man would not have ever considered suicide if he hadn't been in horrible agony for several years, been looked down upon like a junkie grubbing for a fix when he reported his pain, lost his life savings on useless "treatments" that only increased his suffering, and didn't even receive the comfort of a few pain free hours a day to allow him to sleep. Doctors did dump anti-depressants on him, and they did "counsel" him, and talk is cheap--it must be because that's about all Allan ever got when he desperately chased after the relief he needed and which never came.

Again, my personal observation is that many health care providers are restricted by law in the amount of controlled substances they may prescribe. Hospice is the only outfit I have so far observed who will "dismiss" such restrictions. Considering they mostly operate within home health care, they have an autonomy other providers do not have.

By the way, I am not sure anyone in this tread meant to come across as " neatly writting off all suicide to depression".

I don't think everyone who commits suicide does so out of a sense of confusion or suffers from a mental disorder.

Neither do I. Circumstancial suicides and pathologicaly related suicides stem from different causes. What is commonly prevailiant though in the circumstancial suicides is a sense of having no other alternative than exiting pain(whether it be emotional or physical) by completing suicide. Does the alternative exists for folks such as your beloved friend? It certainly should but as we know, health care providers are restricted by law as to which maximum dosage they can prescribe. No matter how empathic a physician may be, he/she is not going to risk criminal prosecution. And the problem remains a bunch of polticians who are allegedly "serving" the people with their best interest at heart.

My buddy Allan was pretty realistic in his assessment of the unlikelihood of ever getting relief from pain and all of the happy pills in the world didn't make "sucks" not siphon. He wasn't willing to live in ceaseless physical agony. He wasn't abandoned by those who loved him, he went to the grave with much family and many friends who loved him, shared in his frustration at not being able to get the help he needed, and we would have done anything in our power to ease his suffering, but that ability wasn't in our hands.

We can both agree that this ability needs to change hands. It is currently not in the hand of the patient or the health care provider. It is in the hands of politicians who have absolutly no professional medical training.

Many people take their lives every year because of the refusal of the medical community to treat pain adequately.

This is where are in disagreement. I understand the source of such "refusal" to be politics not the mentality of the medical community. Sure, there are providers who should consider getting another job. But the overall mentality is one of being frustrated as the patient is, because of law directed restrictions.

They are the collateral damage in the war on drugs.

Well, absolutly. The current Florida legislature on controlled substances was motivated by the "war on drugs". But, again, the medical community is NOT the source of such "war on drugs". Your legislators are.

Jack Kevorkian would be run out of town on a rail and the "assisted suicide" movement would be mostly down the tubes if the reality of untreated and under treated pain didn't exist.

IMO, it is important to differenciate the motivation communicated by a TERMINAL patient who obviously has no prospect of longevity or quality of life to improve and a non terminal patient suffering of chronic pain. I can understand how a terminal patient would express the will to abbreviate any unevitable process of agonizing painful death. I would not consider that his/her issue is limited only to pain control.When the inevitable outcome is a predictable agony, such expressed will should be dealt with separatly from a lack of effective palliative care.

No amount of counselling and no number of antidepressants gives these people the help they need to survive. Their situation is just as desperate as that of people who jump to their deaths from a burning building to escape the torment of being burned alive, but nearly universally downplayed or not considered. It goes on day after day, year after year, and goes on today as you read this, and will go on tomorrow, and the day after that. I currently know of three individuals who will not seek treatment for serious but treatable medical conditions because they know that it will only prolong their suffering.

And that's tragic. Because as long as they are treatable medical conditions, as patients they should be able to expect effective treatments. The other issue, IMO, is the lack of advocacy for such patients. Some get to a point of discouragement to where a consciencious nurse has to "light up fires under the butts" of the folks who can modify the treatment prospects. I find such devoted nurses(usualy RNs) to be quite effective. Often they hold the key to motivating such patients to keep fighting.

I guess what I'm trying to say is don't write off all suicide to sadness, mental imbalances, depression, and irrationality. Many cases do not fit nicely into that box. And if it's ever in your power to vote, advocate humane treatment of pain, or correct the notion that people who seek relief from their pain are trying to get high, please do so.

For some of us who work in the health care system, I believe that we should be exercising the role of patients' advocates. In any circumstance we observe inefficiency or indifference in the way they are being treated, we should move "heaven and earth" to see positive changes occuring.There must be a more motivated body of health care providers who are going to adopt a common and general vision of " I have the power to modify that person's circumstances".

We lose too many precious lives because our society doesn't take chronic pain seriously and doesn't believe that it can be as severe as short term pain. Great people like Allan die from society's ignorance each and every day. It's a hellishly unnecessary waste of human life.

To the "layperson", the label of ignorance applies. However, it sould not to any health care provider. From the lower scale of nursing to the most specialized branch of palliative care. We should know that pain is real and not to be underestimated.

There is an even deeper issue : the acceptance that health care in general is to be a profit centered INDUSTRY. Resulting in HMOs and other health care insurance outfits dictating which drugs a patient can have access to. Thus the reoccurence of them denying a prescription for the most effective drug, requiring from the physician to prescribe a lower effectiveness and cheaper drug. Can you see the consequences for long term pain control care patients? What alternative remains for such person when they have developped tolerance to their usual pain killer and they cannot afford switching to another drug? Dosage increase will be regulated by law. (let alone the reality that some potent opiates can have a fatal outcome if a limit is not set as a safety cap).

I would not dismiss counseling and the use of anti depressants as SUPPORTIVE therapies for long term pain care patients. Nor would I dismiss rehabilitative therapies as secondary supportive therapies to conventional pharmacology based treatments. I think I already mentionned to you an advanced stage spinal stenosis patient who undoubtly benefited of both physical and massage therapy alongside her drug regimen. Her taking a mild anti depressant allowed her to overcome the discouragement caused by her obvious physical disability. Physical pain causes physical disability. Which always affect the overall level of self motivation for anyone. Going from full ambulation and autonomous daily activities to limited activities means losing control. That loss of control triggers a depressive effect.

Even my now for 20 years full quad necessitates mild anti depressants. No matter how long that man has lost control over his own body, he still can reach lows if his mind dwells too much on that loss of control. The drug keeps him "balanced" within his psyche.

[Rahab]

I think I would have gone to the press. I see stories like this on the news all the time now.

Unfortunatly, no matter how much media coverage, Crow does make a valid point that pain evaluation remains an obscur domaine. Asking someone : from 1 to 10, tell me how much pain you feel" does not acknowledge the subjective aspect of how each person will deal with pain. It only identifies levels but not the individual dealing with pain. Some fo/ks can tolerate pain. Others will suffer tremendously over what you or I would disregard as a benign cause. They should not be discarded as "whiners" or " drug addicts". There are folks who need a pill or two before getting a bone marrow biopsy. I tolerate it quite well so now I tend to bypass the pill or two because I do not like the nausea and drowsiness I experience. But under no circumstance would my oncologist consider not prescribing a pain killer for such benign procedure.. He even offers the alternative of doing it under complete sedation as an out patient in a near by health care facility.

The problem is that pain tolerance is a very individual matter. And it can be quite frustrating to deal with a nurse or doctor engaged in a procedure who responds to an expression of pain with "oh... that should not hurt". Then, it is quite cheering when you are being warned that there will be some "discomfort" but you basicaly feel no discomfort. It shows that there is no accurate way to measure pain itself. The person's level of tolerance and her/his sensitivity to any pain should be what prevails.

We are kind of off the topic of "suicide" here... but this thread may also be helpful for readers to understand how pain works for each of us and quite individualy.

The general rule is to not underestimate the expression of pain, whether it be emotional or physical. There should be a unilateral response based on concern and relief.

The man I mentionned earlier is currently wheel chair bound. His "relief" consits of a morphine line into his spine. Eventualy, he will develop tolerance to his daily dosage. Being interned in a prison facility and NOT a medical facility, I doubt he will be provided with efficient pain control care. Let alone the daily personal care any disabled person should recieve. There was media coverage of his tragic case.

He too is a colateral damage victim of the "war on drugs". His freedom was also taken away. His family torn apart and all assets reduced to nothing. He was treated like a common criminal and judged as such and condemned as such. His "crime" was to find any possible means to survive pain. His case is coming up for appeal. Some local organizations fighting for the rights of Disabled Persons are gathering human and financial resources to support legal fees. It is my understanding that the Governor has already recieved some petitions.

So, there is not total indifference in this society. But it seems to take tragedies such as Crow's friend for folks to start questionning and demanding changes.

[sphelp]

Turning Lives around

In 1998, I created the Suicide Prevention Help website, on which I share my experiences of suicidal thoughts and feelings, and how I came to see and cope with these powerful urges objectively. I was motivated to publish the site, which contains my “friendship letter” to readers, because I was shocked to find websites that encourage people to kill themselves.

Over the years, I have answered thousands of letters from people of all ages and circumstances, including, for example: young people being bullied in school; teens dealing with their emerging sexuality or peer and family relationships; spouses going through the throes of divorce; individuals experiencing financial or health setbacks; or senior citizens who are housebound and lonely, because they have not heard from their children for years. Each of their stories is heartwrenching and I have offered resources online and offline that hopefully help them in their particular situation.

Some of the stories I hear have come from people whom I would not have expected to write. For example, Lorne [name changed], a missionary in the Far East, wrote to tell me about the severe depression he had been suffering from, which had been exacerbated by the absence of his young family who were out of the country on holidays. Or Rhonda, the nurse who wrote: “Most people would not believe that I am suicidal. I just keep a cheerful face, but inside I am crying all the time.”

Then there is Avi, a young man in Israel who was dreading completing his service in the army because he was frightened “to death” of the possibility of killing someone – even in self-defense. Then there was Hanan, the young Muslim woman living in Saudi Arabia, who was struggling with her beliefs and family and was seriously considering killing herself as a way out of her difficulties.

I have come to appreciate that for those who are experiencing suicidal thoughts and feelings, there is often a lack of kindness in their lives – frequently there is an over-abundance of cruelty in their experience. Often we hear reports in the media of people who have killed themselves. Yet we do not hear of the agony, shame and stigma people feel when they are despairing and contemplating the act. Sadly, mental health and mental health issues are still taboo, thus making it difficult for many to seek help.

I had had suicidal feelings from an early age, and as a young child I tried to hang myself on a tie rack. I grew up believing that I was neither wanted nor loved and that I was essentially not loveable. In my teens and into adulthood I struggled with depression and suicidal feelings.

I again tried to kill myself, taking a massive overdose, and almost lost my leg through dehydration as I was found unconscious only after two days. But this did not end my suicidal feelings. Fortunately, I had a good psychiatrist who helped me deal with childhood issues, such as being given up at birth or being raised in orphanages and foster homes, or being subjected to physical and mental abuse.

At the time I was also dealing with the dissolution of my 10-year marriage and my sexuality. During this period I was told, mistakenly, by my physician that I had Aids. At one point, I was determined to throw myself off a bridge but was spotted by a policeman who stopped and asked if I was OK. I told him I was a “bit down” and he offered to take me out for a cup of coffee. I was so embarrassed that I told him I would just go home. He slowly followed me as I walked home. I was then a chief executive of an NGO and feared that this information would get out.

Even though I was determined to deal with the root causes of my suicidal depression through reading self-help and psychology texts, taking personal development workshops, and being very present in my psychotherapy, I could not get rid of the deep despair I was experiencing.

Once, tired of “complaining” to my therapist and close friends, I took a video camera and videotaped talking to myself as if I was a dear friend. Then I watched the video without sound to observe my body language, and made another video talking to “that person” who was so sad and truly needed a friend. This process led me to see myself with a more compassion and self-love.

Another time, when the self-loathing was particularly profound, I decided to work on an artwork of acrylic and gels. After I completed a layer, I would apply a glaze gel and decided that I would wait for the gel to dry before coming to a final decision to kill myself. Over time this painting had many, many layers and weighed quite a bit, but it enabled me to take the time needed for the waves of suicidal despair to subside.

According to the World Health Organization, in the last 45 years suicide rates have increased by 60% worldwide. Suicide is now among the three leading causes of death among those aged 15-44 years (both sexes). In the year 2000, the WHO says approximately one million people died from suicide: a global mortality rate of 16 per 100,000, or one death every 40 seconds.

Whoever it is and whatever their situation, the impact of these suicides has a deep effect on family members, colleagues and friends. The survivors of suicide go through excruciating grief, and struggle hard to come to terms with their loss.

I am amazed at the number of people who have come forward to tell me of their experiences of a family member who has died in this way. The striking singularity of these conversations is that years after the family member’s death, one can still hear the pain of what those left behind experience. I do not think this agony ever goes away entirely. It may abate, but the questioning and self-doubt are never far from the surface.

My first personal experience with someone else’s suicide was when I was in my early twenties. An accountant in my office had killed himself, leaving a young family. I was shocked and deeply saddened. Many years later, after I had published The Friendship Letter, I saw a young teen throw himself on to an oncoming subway car. In this case I was as profoundly shaken as if he had been my own son. However, it was the suicide of a friend’s brother, whom I had known vicariously, that encouraged me to do everything possible to raise awareness of suicide prevention.

I encourage readers who are confronted with a situation where someone shares their suicidal feelings, to please take them seriously, and to offer a kind and generous ear.

Suicide Prevention Help Web Directory

[manisha]

Stigma associated with mental illnesses can prevent people from getting help. Your willingness to talk about depression and suicide with a friend, family member, or co-worker can be the first step in getting help and preventing suicide.

[docjam]

guys I thought this would be a useful thing to have... there are people around you that have thought and are thinking of taking their life.
learn the signs and be willing to reach out to those people. Most times they wont reach out to you. some links are at the bottom of the page

Fast Facts
• More people die from suicide than from homicide.
• Suicide rates among the elderly are highest for those who are divorced or widowed.
• For young people 15-24 years old, suicide is the third leading cause of death.
• 80% of people that seek treatment for depression are treated successfully.

News: http://www.save.org/prevention/friends_depression.html

Know The Symptoms Of Depression

Your friend might have only a few of the symptoms of depression listed below or he might have many symptoms. Everyone is different. There is no set number of boxes that, once checked, signal depression for sure. If any of the following are particularly bothersome or interfere with life, a person should get help. Can you imagine your friend saying these things?

* I feel sad.
* I feel like crying a lot.
* I’m bored.
* I feel alone.
* I don't really feel sad, just "empty".
* I don't have confidence in myself.
* I don't like myself.
* I often feel scared, but I don't know why.
* I feel mad, like I could just explode!
* I feel guilty
* I can't concentrate.
* I have a hard time remembering things.
* I don't want to make decisions - its too much work.
* I feel like I'm in a fog.
* I’m so tired, no matter how much I sleep.
* I’m frustrated with everything and everybody.
* I don’t have fun anymore.
* I feel helpless.
* I’m always getting into trouble.
* I’m restless and jittery. I can’t sit still
* I feel nervous.
* I feel disorganized, like my head is spinning.
* I feel self-conscious.
* I can’t think straight. My brain doesn’t seem to work.
* I feel ugly.
* I don’t feel like talking anymore – I just don’t have anything to say.
* I feel my life has no direction.
* I feel life isn’t worth living.
* I consume alcohol/take drugs regularly.
* My whole body feels slowed down – my speech, my walk, and my movements.
* I don’t want to go out with friends anymore.
* I don’t feel like taking care of my appearance.
* Occasionally, my heart pounds, I can’t catch my breath, and I feel tingly. My vision feels strange and I feel I might pass out. The feeling passes in seconds, but I’m afraid it will happen again.
* Sometimes I feel like I'm losing it.
* I feel "different" from everyone else.
* I smile, but inside I'm miserable.
* I have difficulty falling asleep or I awaken between 1 A.M. and 5 A.M. and then I can't get back to sleep.
* My appetite has diminished - food tastes so bland.
* My appetite has increased - I feel I could eat all the time.
* My weight has increased/decreased.
* I have headaches.
* I have stomachaches.
* My arms and legs hurt.
* I feel nauseous.
* I'm dizzy.
* Sometimes my vision seems blurred or slow
* I'm clumsy.
* My neck hurts.

Know The Danger Signs Of Suicide

Your friend may have symptoms of depression, but not be suicidal. It is always important to watch for danger signs of suicide though, just in case your friend might be having suicidal thoughts. Have you noticed any of these warning signs of suicide in your friend?

* Talking, reading, or writing about suicide or death.
* Talking about feeling worthless or helpless.
* Saying things like, “I’m going to kill myself,” “I wish I were dead,” or “I shouldn’t have been born.”
* Visiting or calling people to say goodbye.
* Giving things away or returning borrowed items.
* Organizing or cleaning bedroom “for the last time.”
* Self-destructive behavior like self-cutting, or other “risk-taking” behaviors.
* Obsessed with death, violence and guns or knives.
* Previous suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts.

If you see any of these danger signs in your friend, get help immediately.

Know What to Do

There is a direct link between depression and suicide. Every year in the United States, more than 2,000 teenagers die by suicide.

Take Suicide Seriously

* The statement, “People who talk about suicide, won’t really do it,” is false!
* If your friend makes comments like, “I wish I were dead,” or “It doesn’t matter, I won’t be around much longer,” or “Everyone would be better off without me,” it may signal that he is thinking about suicide.

Never Keep Suicide a Secret

* It’s okay to ask your friend, “Have you ever felt so badly that you’ve thought of suicide?” Asking the question won’t plant the idea in a person’s mind.
* If you suspect a friend has been thinking of suicide, tell a responsible adult, someone who will listen, take you seriously, and take action to get your friend help.
* If the first adult you go to doesn’t feel there is cause for concern, keep going until you find someone who takes you seriously. This is an act of true friendship. A suicidal threat, even if said jokingly, should always be taken seriously.

Offer to Help

* Listen carefully, don’t judge, and focus on the behaviors that concern you.
* Reassure your friend that there is help and that suicidal thoughts are only temporary
* Offer to go with your friend to his or her parents, counselor or doctor.
* You can say things like, “I can tell you’re really hurting,” or “I care about you and will do my best to help.” Tell him or her, “It’s okay, it isn’t your fault.” A supportive friend can mean so much to someone who is in pain.

for more go HERE

© source where applicable

Handling a call from a suicidal person
# Be yourself. “The right words” are unimportant. If you are concerned, your voice and manner will show it.

# Listen. Let the person unload despair, ventilate anger. If given an opportunity to do this, he or she will feel better by the end of the call. No matter how negative the call seems, the fact that it exists is a positive sign, a cry for help.

# Be sympathetic, non-judgmental, patient, calm, accepting. The caller has done the right thing by getting in touch with another person.

# If the caller is saying “I’m so depressed, I can’t go on,” ask The Question: “Are you having thoughts of suicide?” You are not putting ideas in his head, you are doing a good thing for him. You are showing him that you are concerned, that you take him seriously, that it is OK for him to share his pain with you.

# If the answer is yes, you can begin asking a series of further questions: Have you thought about how you would do it (PLAN); Have you got what you need (MEANS); Have you thought about when you would do it (TIME SET). 95% of all suicidal callers will answer no at some point in this series or indicate that the time is set for some date in the future. This will be a relief for both of you.

# Simply talking about their problems for a length of time will give suicidal people relief from loneliness and pent up feelings, awareness that another person cares, and a feeling of being understood. They also get tired -- their body chemistry changes. These things take the edge off their agitated state and help them get through a bad night.

# Avoid arguments, problem solving, advice giving, quick referrals, belittling and making the caller feel that has to justify his suicidal feelings. It is not how bad the problem is, but how badly it’s hurting the person who has it.

# If the person is ingesting drugs, get the details (what, how much, alcohol, other medications, last meal, general health) and call Poison Control at _______________. A shift partner can call while you continue to talk to the person, or you can get the caller’s permission and do it yourself on another phone while the caller listens to your side of the conversation. If Poison Control recommends immediate medical assistance, ask if the caller has a nearby relative, friend, or neighbor who can assist with transportation or the ambulance. In a few cases the person will initially refuse needed medical assistance. Remember that the call is still a cry for help and stay with him in a sympathetic and non-judgmental way. Ask for his address and phone number in case he changes his mind. (Call the number to make sure it’s busy.) If your organization does not trace calls, be sure to tell him that.

# Do not go it alone. Get help during the call and debrief afterwards.

# Your caller may be concerned about someone else who is suicidal. Just listen, reassure him that he is doing the right thing by taking the situation seriously, and sympathize with his stressful situation. With some support, many third parties will work out reasonable courses of action on their own. In the rare case where the third party is really a first party, just listening will enable you to move toward his problems. You can ask, “Have you ever been in a situation where you had thoughts of suicide?”

Taken from HERE

News: http://www.afsp.org/research/articles/malone.html

Serotonin and the Suicidal Brain
Kevin Malone, M.D. and J. John Mann, M.D.

Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States and is among the three leading causes of death for those aged 15 to 34 years. For every person in the U.S. who dies by suicide, 10 people attempt suicide but survive. Suicide attempts are the most serious complication of Major Depressive Disorder, and, in up to forty percent of cases, attempts precede completed suicide.

Recent studies in Finland and England suggest that, while Major Depression is a recognizable and treatable disorder, only a small fraction of suicides with Major Depression received adequate antidepressant treatment prior to their deaths. Data from our own studies confirms that most depressed suicide attempters receive inadequate antidepressant treatment. Clinicians cannot easily predict which patients with Major Depression will attempt suicide and which depressives will not. This difficulty also perplexes and demoralizes the families of depressed, suicidal patients that must deal with the consequences of suicidal thoughts and actions.

Dr. John Mann directs the Federally-funded Mental Health Clinical Research Center for the Study of Suicidal Behavior, which was established in 1989. Located at the New York State Psychiatric Institute/Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, the Research Center is uniquely dedicated to conducting suicide research across the life cycle in order to better understand the behavioral, biological, and genetic mechanisms underlying suicidal behavior.

for more go HERE

© source where applicable

some links to pages that can help you know more about suicide and prevention...

SAVE

suicide and suicide prevention

goldfields suicide prevention west aust

AFSP

reach out Australia

beyond blue australia

SPAN USA

American Association of suicidology

if you know any good sites or have a story to share please do so in this thread.

lots of good information to look over. Nice job LUV

[semmie'ssister]

guys I thought this would be a useful thing to have... there are people around you that have thought and are thinking of taking their life.
learn the signs and be willing to reach out to those people. Most times they wont reach out to you. some links are at the bottom of the page

Fast Facts
• More people die from suicide than from homicide.
• Suicide rates among the elderly are highest for those who are divorced or widowed.
• For young people 15-24 years old, suicide is the third leading cause of death.
• 80% of people that seek treatment for depression are treated successfully.

News: http://www.save.org/prevention/friends_depression.html

Know The Symptoms Of Depression

Your friend might have only a few of the symptoms of depression listed below or he might have many symptoms. Everyone is different. There is no set number of boxes that, once checked, signal depression for sure. If any of the following are particularly bothersome or interfere with life, a person should get help. Can you imagine your friend saying these things?

* I feel sad.
* I feel like crying a lot.
* I’m bored.
* I feel alone.
* I don't really feel sad, just "empty".
* I don't have confidence in myself.
* I don't like myself.
* I often feel scared, but I don't know why.
* I feel mad, like I could just explode!
* I feel guilty
* I can't concentrate.
* I have a hard time remembering things.
* I don't want to make decisions - its too much work.
* I feel like I'm in a fog.
* I’m so tired, no matter how much I sleep.
* I’m frustrated with everything and everybody.
* I don’t have fun anymore.
* I feel helpless.
* I’m always getting into trouble.
* I’m restless and jittery. I can’t sit still
* I feel nervous.
* I feel disorganized, like my head is spinning.
* I feel self-conscious.
* I can’t think straight. My brain doesn’t seem to work.
* I feel ugly.
* I don’t feel like talking anymore – I just don’t have anything to say.
* I feel my life has no direction.
* I feel life isn’t worth living.
* I consume alcohol/take drugs regularly.
* My whole body feels slowed down – my speech, my walk, and my movements.
* I don’t want to go out with friends anymore.
* I don’t feel like taking care of my appearance.
* Occasionally, my heart pounds, I can’t catch my breath, and I feel tingly. My vision feels strange and I feel I might pass out. The feeling passes in seconds, but I’m afraid it will happen again.
* Sometimes I feel like I'm losing it.
* I feel "different" from everyone else.
* I smile, but inside I'm miserable.
* I have difficulty falling asleep or I awaken between 1 A.M. and 5 A.M. and then I can't get back to sleep.
* My appetite has diminished - food tastes so bland.
* My appetite has increased - I feel I could eat all the time.
* My weight has increased/decreased.
* I have headaches.
* I have stomachaches.
* My arms and legs hurt.
* I feel nauseous.
* I'm dizzy.
* Sometimes my vision seems blurred or slow
* I'm clumsy.
* My neck hurts.

Know The Danger Signs Of Suicide

Your friend may have symptoms of depression, but not be suicidal. It is always important to watch for danger signs of suicide though, just in case your friend might be having suicidal thoughts. Have you noticed any of these warning signs of suicide in your friend?

* Talking, reading, or writing about suicide or death.
* Talking about feeling worthless or helpless.
* Saying things like, “I’m going to kill myself,” “I wish I were dead,” or “I shouldn’t have been born.”
* Visiting or calling people to say goodbye.
* Giving things away or returning borrowed items.
* Organizing or cleaning bedroom “for the last time.”
* Self-destructive behavior like self-cutting, or other “risk-taking” behaviors.
* Obsessed with death, violence and guns or knives.
* Previous suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts.

If you see any of these danger signs in your friend, get help immediately.

Know What to Do

There is a direct link between depression and suicide. Every year in the United States, more than 2,000 teenagers die by suicide.

Take Suicide Seriously

* The statement, “People who talk about suicide, won’t really do it,” is false!
* If your friend makes comments like, “I wish I were dead,” or “It doesn’t matter, I won’t be around much longer,” or “Everyone would be better off without me,” it may signal that he is thinking about suicide.

Never Keep Suicide a Secret

* It’s okay to ask your friend, “Have you ever felt so badly that you’ve thought of suicide?” Asking the question won’t plant the idea in a person’s mind.
* If you suspect a friend has been thinking of suicide, tell a responsible adult, someone who will listen, take you seriously, and take action to get your friend help.
* If the first adult you go to doesn’t feel there is cause for concern, keep going until you find someone who takes you seriously. This is an act of true friendship. A suicidal threat, even if said jokingly, should always be taken seriously.

Offer to Help

* Listen carefully, don’t judge, and focus on the behaviors that concern you.
* Reassure your friend that there is help and that suicidal thoughts are only temporary
* Offer to go with your friend to his or her parents, counselor or doctor.
* You can say things like, “I can tell you’re really hurting,” or “I care about you and will do my best to help.” Tell him or her, “It’s okay, it isn’t your fault.” A supportive friend can mean so much to someone who is in pain.

for more go HERE

© source where applicable

Handling a call from a suicidal person
# Be yourself. “The right words” are unimportant. If you are concerned, your voice and manner will show it.

# Listen. Let the person unload despair, ventilate anger. If given an opportunity to do this, he or she will feel better by the end of the call. No matter how negative the call seems, the fact that it exists is a positive sign, a cry for help.

# Be sympathetic, non-judgmental, patient, calm, accepting. The caller has done the right thing by getting in touch with another person.

# If the caller is saying “I’m so depressed, I can’t go on,” ask The Question: “Are you having thoughts of suicide?” You are not putting ideas in his head, you are doing a good thing for him. You are showing him that you are concerned, that you take him seriously, that it is OK for him to share his pain with you.

# If the answer is yes, you can begin asking a series of further questions: Have you thought about how you would do it (PLAN); Have you got what you need (MEANS); Have you thought about when you would do it (TIME SET). 95% of all suicidal callers will answer no at some point in this series or indicate that the time is set for some date in the future. This will be a relief for both of you.

# Simply talking about their problems for a length of time will give suicidal people relief from loneliness and pent up feelings, awareness that another person cares, and a feeling of being understood. They also get tired -- their body chemistry changes. These things take the edge off their agitated state and help them get through a bad night.

# Avoid arguments, problem solving, advice giving, quick referrals, belittling and making the caller feel that has to justify his suicidal feelings. It is not how bad the problem is, but how badly it’s hurting the person who has it.

# If the person is ingesting drugs, get the details (what, how much, alcohol, other medications, last meal, general health) and call Poison Control at _______________. A shift partner can call while you continue to talk to the person, or you can get the caller’s permission and do it yourself on another phone while the caller listens to your side of the conversation. If Poison Control recommends immediate medical assistance, ask if the caller has a nearby relative, friend, or neighbor who can assist with transportation or the ambulance. In a few cases the person will initially refuse needed medical assistance. Remember that the call is still a cry for help and stay with him in a sympathetic and non-judgmental way. Ask for his address and phone number in case he changes his mind. (Call the number to make sure it’s busy.) If your organization does not trace calls, be sure to tell him that.

# Do not go it alone. Get help during the call and debrief afterwards.

# Your caller may be concerned about someone else who is suicidal. Just listen, reassure him that he is doing the right thing by taking the situation seriously, and sympathize with his stressful situation. With some support, many third parties will work out reasonable courses of action on their own. In the rare case where the third party is really a first party, just listening will enable you to move toward his problems. You can ask, “Have you ever been in a situation where you had thoughts of suicide?”

Taken from HERE

News: http://www.afsp.org/research/articles/malone.html

Serotonin and the Suicidal Brain
Kevin Malone, M.D. and J. John Mann, M.D.

Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States and is among the three leading causes of death for those aged 15 to 34 years. For every person in the U.S. who dies by suicide, 10 people attempt suicide but survive. Suicide attempts are the most serious complication of Major Depressive Disorder, and, in up to forty percent of cases, attempts precede completed suicide.

Recent studies in Finland and England suggest that, while Major Depression is a recognizable and treatable disorder, only a small fraction of suicides with Major Depression received adequate antidepressant treatment prior to their deaths. Data from our own studies confirms that most depressed suicide attempters receive inadequate antidepressant treatment. Clinicians cannot easily predict which patients with Major Depression will attempt suicide and which depressives will not. This difficulty also perplexes and demoralizes the families of depressed, suicidal patients that must deal with the consequences of suicidal thoughts and actions.

Dr. John Mann directs the Federally-funded Mental Health Clinical Research Center for the Study of Suicidal Behavior, which was established in 1989. Located at the New York State Psychiatric Institute/Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, the Research Center is uniquely dedicated to conducting suicide research across the life cycle in order to better understand the behavioral, biological, and genetic mechanisms underlying suicidal behavior.

for more go HERE

© source where applicable

some links to pages that can help you know more about suicide and prevention...

SAVE

suicide and suicide prevention

goldfields suicide prevention west aust

AFSP

reach out Australia

beyond blue australia

SPAN USA

American Association of suicidology

if you know any good sites or have a story to share please do so in this thread.

it still amazes me with all the resources and awareness that seems to be growing, there are still people who see suicide as their only hope