Recognizing the Warning Signs
Suicide risk doesn’t always look the way people expect. Knowing what to watch for — in what someone says, how they act, and how they seem to feel — is one of the most powerful tools for prevention.
Understanding the Signs
No single sign means someone is at risk of suicide, but a noticeable change, or several signs appearing together, is worth taking seriously — especially if the change is sudden or intensifying. Warning signs generally fall into three categories: what someone says, how they behave, and their mood.
What Someone Might Say
Someone at risk may talk about:
- Killing themselves
- Feeling hopeless
- Having no reason to live
- Being a burden to others
- Feeling trapped
- Unbearable pain
Changes in Behavior
Watch for:
- Increased alcohol or drug use
- Searching online for methods to end their life
- Withdrawing from activities they used to enjoy
- Isolating from family and friends
- Sleeping much more or much less than usual
- Visiting or calling people to say goodbye
- Giving away prized possessions
- Uncharacteristic aggression
- Ongoing fatigue
- Engaging in risky or reckless behavior, as if without regard for consequences
Changes in Mood
Look for shifts such as:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Loss of interest in things they cared about
- Irritability
- Humiliation or shame
- Agitation or anger
- A sudden sense of relief or calm after a period of despair, as this can signal that someone has made a decision, not that they’ve recovered
How to Respond
You don’t need to be a professional to make a difference. These five steps, backed by research, are the recommended way to support someone you’re worried about:
Ask. “Are you thinking about suicide?” This can feel like a hard question, but research shows asking directly does not plant the idea or increase risk — it opens the door.
Be there. Listen without judgment. Simply being present and taking someone seriously can ease the isolation that often comes with suicidal thoughts.
Keep them safe. Ask if they have a specific plan, and help limit access to lethal means — this is one of the most effective ways to reduce risk in an acute crisis. In practice, that means: temporarily storing firearms away from the home, or locked and separated from ammunition, with a trusted friend or law enforcement holding the key; and having someone else hold and dispense medications in safe quantities, or removing lethal-dose medications from the home entirely until the crisis passes.
Help them connect. Point them to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) or another trusted resource, and help them reach out to family, friends, a spiritual advisor, or a mental health professional.
Follow up. Check back in. Ongoing contact after a crisis — a call, a text, a visit — makes a measurable difference in someone’s recovery.
Common Myths
Misconceptions about suicide are part of what keeps people from acting on warning signs. A few worth naming directly:
“People who talk about suicide don’t actually go through with it.“
Most people who die by suicide communicated their intent beforehand, either directly or through behavior. Take every mention seriously, every time.
“If someone is determined to die, there’s nothing anyone can do.“
Most people experiencing suicidal thoughts are ambivalent; they’re seeking relief from unbearable pain, not necessarily death itself. Support during the crisis window measurably changes outcomes.
“Talking about it will put the idea in their head.“
If you’ve noticed the warning signs, the thought is already there. Asking directly tends to bring relief, not risk — research consistently backs this up.
“Only professionals can actually help.“
Most people who get through a crisis point to a friend, family member, or coworker who noticed and stayed present, not a clinical intervention. You don’t need to be a suicide prevention expert to ask the question: “Are you thinking about killing yourself?”
Risk Factors vs. Warning Signs
Warning signs are things you can observe right now. Risk factors are background conditions that make someone statistically more vulnerable over time — they don’t predict suicide on their own, but they add context.
Health-related: mental health conditions (depression, substance use, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders), serious physical health conditions or chronic pain, traumatic brain injury.
Environmental: access to lethal means, prolonged stress (harassment, bullying, relationship problems, unemployment), major stressful events (rejection, divorce, financial crisis), exposure to someone else’s suicide, discrimination.
Historical: previous suicide attempts, family history of suicide, childhood abuse, neglect, or trauma.
Protective Factors
These are the things that lower risk and support recovery:
- Access to mental health care, and a willingness to use it
- Strong connections to family and community
- Problem-solving and coping skills
- Limited access to lethal means during a crisis
- Cultural or religious beliefs that support connection, help-seeking, and a sense of purpose
Crisis Resources
If you or someone you know is in crisis, help is available. Contact your local crisis line, or reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling, texting, or chatting at 988lifeline.org.