Recognizing signals of crisis

There are 3 kinds of signals to watch for if you think a person might be suicidal:

• Changes in emotion
• Changes in behaviour
• Crisis Signals

Emotional symptoms of crisis

Experiencing significant life changes or losses may create negative feelings or emotional states that can lead to crisis.

Examples of emotions that can be symptomatic of crisis are:

• DEPRESSION: Nothings seems important anymore!
• WORTHLESSNESS: I can't do anything right!
• HOPELESSNESS: There's no point in trying!
• OVERWHELMED: I can't take it anymore!
• ELATION: Everything is perfect now!

Behavioural symptoms of crisis

Likewise, these changes and emotions can influence a person's actions or behaviours. These kinds of behaviours may also indicate that a person is experiencing crisis:

• Increased use of drugs or alcohol
• Increased or decreased performance (school, work, hobbies, sports)
• Self-neglect (appearance of hygiene)
• Risky behaviour (self-destructive acts or acting out)
• Aggressive, violent behaviour (bad temper, crime)
• Isolation from friends, family, school or work
• Changes in energy level (up or down)
• Complaints about health
• Difficulty in concentrating
• Big changes in eating and/or sleeping habits

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Recognizing crisis signals

Most people who are feeling suicidal feel trapped and alone. They may come to see suicide as their only way out Ë but they do not want to die. For this reason, most will reach out to those around them before making a fatal suicide attempt.

To recognize suicide distress signals, we must become aware of three types of Signals of Suicide (S.O.S.):

1. Preparation for Death
   Examples:
   • Giving away prized possessions or making a Will
   • saying goodbye or talking about going away, (without mentioning clear plans).



2. Suicide attempt or self-harm recently or in the past.
   • 80% of people who die by suicide have attempted or shown signs of self-harm before.



3. Warnings, either spoken or written.
   Examples:
   • Saying things like: "Life isn't worth it." or "Things would be better if I was gone."
   • Making jokes, poems, drawings or other references to suicide.
   • Having a morbid fantasy or plan about death.

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Know someone who might be thinking about suicide?

What to do: