Are all people who die by suicide suffering from depression?
It’s true that depression is a risk factor for suicide, but not everyone who dies by suicide is depressed. Psychiatrist Frank Clark, MD, explained what you need to know if you’re concerned about a loved one’s risk for suicide.
Can a person who’s considering suicide seem like they’re happy?
“There are people who die by suicide who look fine on the outside, but sometimes there can be an event or stressor of some sort,” Dr. Clark explained. “I have plenty of patients who tell me they have had chronic suicidal thoughts for years, but they don’t harm themselves because of various reasons. I call these protective factors. It could be because of family, a pet, their faith in God. You never know what’s going on with someone, which is a good reason to check in on people.”
What are the risk factors for suicide and when should you reach out for help?
Risk factors for suicide include:
- A previous suicide attempt or attempts
- Family history of suicide, especially if the mother died by suicide
- Family history of depression or anxiety
- Childhood trauma
- Medical conditions such as chronic pain, seizures or cancer
- Access to firearms
If someone is depressed and expressing feelings of hopelessness, these are warning signs that they might be considering suicide. It’s okay to ask if they’re considering suicide and if they’re researching or have a plan.
“If someone is having chronic suicidal thoughts and is researching ways to harm themselves, it’s time for an intervention,” Dr. Clark said.
For help, call the suicide hotline number – 988. Once you are connected you will be able to speak to well-trained staff who are able to address your concerns/crises.
In South Carolina, when someone is viewed to be an imminent risk to themselves or others, or if they’re unable to care for themselves, a family member can initiate commitment papers. Commitment papers have to go to probate court and if they are approved, the person is brought into the emergency department for further evaluation where a medical doctor and mental health professional examine the person to determine if they need to be hospitalized. If they decide hospitalization is best, commitment papers are signed by the medical doctor.
Being “committed” means being involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric facility for treatment because of a condition that is making people a danger to themselves or others. Committed patients may not leave the facility until a probate court judge, treatment team and the doctor determine that they are safe and ready for discharge. The average hospital stay is 5–7 days or longer depending on the need for treatment.
When treatment doesn’t work
Unfortunately, even with treatment, some patients choose to complete suicide. If you have a loved one who dies by suicide, it’s important to remember it’s not your fault.
“A lot of times when people lose a loved one to suicide, the first question they ask themselves is what could I have done? How did I miss the signs? That’s a lot of weight to carry,” Dr. Clark said. “What I share with families is that this is not your fault.”
It’s also not fair to blame the person who died by suicide.
“In my opinion, I don’t believe that people who die by suicide are selfish,” he said. “I believe that they are in immense pain – a pain we cannot even fathom – and the only way they could end that pain, in their mind, was to end their life. Some people are hurting in a way that we just don’t know, and we need to be mindful of that.”
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