Suicide Warning Signs: How to Help Someone Who May Be Struggling
Category: Depression
Topic Of Discussion
Talking about suicide can feel uncomfortable. When we’re worried about someone we love, it can be difficult to know what to say, what to look for, or whether bringing up our concerns will make things worse.
Those conversations matter.
Suicide does not always come with obvious warning signs, and no single behavior can tell us with certainty what another person is experiencing. Learning to recognize potential signs of suicide and knowing how to respond can help us show up for someone during an incredibly difficult time.
September is Suicide Prevention Month, making it an important opportunity to talk openly about mental health, reduce stigma, and remind one another that support is available.
Know the Warning Signs of Suicide
Warning signs can look different from one person to another. Some people may talk openly about wanting to die, while others may become increasingly withdrawn or show changes in their mood and behavior.
Signs that someone may be struggling can include:
- Talking about wanting to die or feeling as though there is no reason to live
- Expressing feelings of hopelessness, unbearable pain, or being a burden
- Withdrawing from friends, family, or activities
- Giving away meaningful possessions or saying goodbye
- Making a plan or researching ways to die
- Taking unusual or dangerous risks
- Significant changes in sleeping or eating
- Increased use of alcohol or drugs
- Intense anxiety, agitation, anger, or mood swings
- Becoming unexpectedly calm after a period of significant distress
These signs deserve attention, particularly when a behavior is new, becoming more frequent, or follows a painful loss, change, or stressful experience.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask
One of the biggest misconceptions about suicide prevention is that asking someone about suicide will put the idea in their head.
It won’t.
If you’re concerned about someone, asking directly, “Are you thinking about suicide?” can open the door to an important conversation. You don’t need to have the perfect words. You don’t need to know exactly what to do next. What matters is creating an opportunity for the person to tell you what they’re experiencing.
Listen without judgment. Try not to minimize their feelings or immediately offer solutions. Sometimes being willing to sit with someone in their pain is an important first step toward helping them connect with additional support.
Take Suicidal Thoughts Seriously
If someone tells you they’re thinking about suicide, take them seriously, even if you’re unsure how immediate the risk may be. Stay with them when possible and help them connect with support. A safety plan developed with a qualified professional can also identify people, resources, coping strategies, and steps to use during moments of crisis.
If someone is in immediate danger or there is a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or seek emergency medical care.
For crisis support in the United States, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Trained crisis counselors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Support Doesn’t End With the Crisis
Suicide prevention isn’t only about what happens during an emergency. Connection matters before, during, and after difficult moments. Checking in, listening, encouraging professional mental health support, and continuing to include someone in everyday life can all help reduce isolation.
A simple message—“I’ve been thinking about you. How are you doing?”—can mean more than you realize.
Support also means recognizing when the situation is more than you can manage alone. Friends and family can provide meaningful connection, but they don’t have to become someone’s therapist or sole source of support. Helping a loved one connect with professional care can be an important part of being there for them.
Hope and Help Are Available
Mental health struggles can make the future feel incredibly small. Someone experiencing suicidal thoughts may have difficulty imagining that circumstances or feelings could change. Support can help create a bridge through that moment.
Therapy and other forms of mental health treatment can help people address depression, anxiety, trauma, overwhelming stress, and other experiences that may contribute to emotional distress. Reaching out early matters, and a person does not have to wait until they are in crisis to ask for help.
Suicide prevention begins with taking one another seriously, listening without judgment, and reminding people that they are worthy of care.
Reaching Out for Support
If you or someone you care about is struggling emotionally, you don’t have to wait for things to become a crisis before reaching out. The team at Tri-Star Counseling is here to provide a compassionate space to talk about what you’re experiencing and find the support that feels right for you.
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or are concerned about someone who may be in immediate danger, call or text 988 to connect with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The Lifeline provides free, confidential support 24/7. In a life-threatening emergency, call 911.
