CALL or TEXT 988 for our National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
A HOPELESSNESS that things can be better AND HELPLESSNESS to do anything/ to ask anyone to make things better / to relieve the distress
Many adults send signals regarding their suicidality:
[Very young children will demonstrate almost none of these signs or symptoms.]
TALK about/INCREASED talking about SUICIDE
Talk about how OVERWHELMINGLY SAD they feel
Talk about BEING A BURDEN to OTHERS
TALK ABOUT NOT GOING TO BE MISSED
IDEALIZING SOMEONE ELSE’S SUICIDE
Talk about HOW ALONE (“alone in a room full of people”) and TIRED, or HOW SPENT THEY FEEL….both emotional (can’t get excited about anything) and physical tiredness
Talk about DEATH, or GOING TO SLEEP for a LONG TIME, or GOING AWAY
WONDER how death may feel…that it may feel RESTFUL, UNTROUBLED
GIVING AWAY some of their TREASURED BELONGINGS
ISOLATE by STOPPING: socializing, responding to emails or texts
DIFFICULTY CONCENTRATING that may show up as something called psychomotor slowing which could SHOW AS A DROP IN GRADES/SCHOOL PERFORMANCE AND WORK PERFORMANCE
LOSS OF INTEREST in favorite shows, activities, foods.
STOP SOCIAL MEDIA (or INCREASE its use for signaling some of topics, above)
ISOLATE by BREAK UP (via letters, emails, social media) with FRIENDS and PARTNERS
STOP SEEING / TALKING TO FRIENDS, FAVORITE RELATIVES/GRANDCHILDREN
STOP routine HYGIENE (brush, comb, shave, shower, laundering clothing)
PERSON/PERSONALITY CHANGES: WT LOSS, MORE HAGGARD LOOKING, MORE IRRITABLE/ANGRY, MISSING APPOINTMENTS, CARING LESS IN AREAS WHERE THEY USED TO CARE
One of the final events is that ONCE THE PERSON HAS MADE THE DECISION or PLAN TO COMMIT SUICIDE, this person may suddenly look CALM, PEACEFUL, ALMOST HAPPY.
CALL or TEXT 988 for our National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Charles Tadros, M.D.
November 19, 2022
Saint Louis, Missouri