Myth: People who talk about suicide don't do it.
Fact: Talking about suicide can be an appeal for help. Most people usually communicate their intentions to suicide to another person, either directly or indirectly. This could include dropping hints about suicide, talking about death or dying, or writing a poem. If not responded to, the person's thoughts could progress to action – a suicide attempt. All talk of suicide should therefore be taken seriously and acknowledged as such to the suicidal person. People who talk about suicide should be encouraged to talk further and seek professional support.
Myth: Once a person decides to complete suicide, there is nothing anyone can do to stop them.
Fact: The suicidal crisis represents a cry for help rather than a wish to die. A part of the person wants to live and a part wants to die. With help the person can be encouraged towards life. If the person receives the help he or she is seeking, an attempt is less likely. Suicidal crises can be relatively short lived. To protect the person during this time: stay with the person, listen to their struggle and encourage them to keep safe. Help the person to access professional support, as many people do move beyond seeing death as an option with professional assistance.
Myth: All deaths are preventable.
Fact: Despite our best efforts to help a person at risk of suicide, some people who attempt suicide will die as a result of their actions.
Myth: Suicides happen without any warning/ are spontaneous acts/ people keep their plans to themselves.
Fact: Studies have indicated that as many as eight out of ten people give warning of their intention to suicide. More often, this intention is not recognised rather than hidden. See Warning Signs
Myth: Talking openly about suicide increases the risk.
Fact: It is important not to treat suicide as a taboo subject. Raising the issue sensitively and asking directly about suicide gives the person at risk permission to speak about his or her distress, and demonstrates to the person that you care. Rather than feeling worse, the person at risk could feel relieved if the issue of suicide is raised in a caring and non-judgmental manner. This could prevent action and increase the chances of the person at risk seeking further help.
Myth: People who talk about suicide/ make a nonfatal suicide attempt are just seeking attention.
Fact: All suicidal thoughts and behaviours are a cry for help that need to be listened to and responded to. We cannot make assumptions about the person's intentions and need to take this seriously. Anyone distressed enough to talk about or attempt suicide needs professional support. Addressing the underlying problems through talking with a professional helper could reduce the likelihood of future attempts.
Myth: Suicidal people always want to die.
Fact: The majority of people who attempt suicide are confused about whether they want to live or die. Most people want to live better and happier lives but need relief from the intense emotional pain they are experiencing. If people in the midst of a suicidal crisis were certain that they wanted to die, they would not be communicating their distress to others. In communicating their distress to others in this way, suicidal people are actually reaching out for help to ease their emotional pain.
Myth: If someone seems to make a quick recovery after a 'low' time or crisis, I can stop worrying.
Fact: A sudden positive change in mood could mean two different things – the person has made a decision to continue living, or the person appears at peace because the person has resolved the emotional conflict between living and dying in favour of death. Reaching a decision makes the person appear happier and at peace. For example, a person who is coming out of an episode of depression might have been thinking about suicide constantly whilst depressed but not had the energy to act on their plans due to the lack of energy that is characteristic of depression. As the person's energy levels improve and he/she becomes more active, he/she might have enough energy to now act on what he/she had been planning.
It is therefore important for carers and friends to continue to be observant and watch for other signs that might be indicators of thinking about suicide, such as giving away possessions or writing a will. See Warning Signs.
Myth: Suicide attempts are seldom repeated.
Fact: Although not all people who attempt suicide die, a large number of people will go on to attempt suicide again. The level of danger also tends to increase with each attempt. A prior suicide attempt is therefore considered an indicator of further suicide attempts. The risk of suicide for people who have previously attempted suicide is estimated to be 40 times higher than that of the general population.
Myth: Suicide only happens to certain types of people.
Fact: Suicidal thoughts, feelings and behaviours can be experienced by people of all ages, genders, nationalities, socio-economic classes and religions. The person's perception of his or life situation is of greater importance than any general social condition.
Myth: Suicide is inherited and is therefore inevitable.
Fact: Suicide is not inherited. However, one suicide in a family can lead to others. This is thought to be because other family members begin to consider suicide as a solution to the emotional pain they might be experiencing. A person who believes that suicide is hereditary and has lost family members to suicide could also be at greater risk. Such people might need to be reminded that there are other alternatives to suicide, and they can choose to not act on their suicidal thoughts.
Myth: All suicidal people are mentally ill. 'Normal' people do not think about suicide.
Fact: Thoughts of suicide are not uncommon and can occur for anyone. People who see suicide as an option are in emotional pain and may be desperately unhappy. Although mental illnesses such as depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia may be associated with suicidal thinking and behaviour, not everyone who contemplates suicide is living with mental illness.
Myth: All suicidal young people are depressed.
Fact: Whilst a depressed mood is often connected with suicidal thinking, not all young people who contemplate or attempt suicide are necessarily depressed.
Myth: Suicidal people do not ask for help.
Fact: Most people will tell someone about their plans. Young people will often tell their school peers. Studies of completed suicides indicate that the majority of adults had visited their doctor within the three month period before their attempt.
Myth: People who attempt suicide are selfish or weak. They are just taking the easy way out.
Fact: People in the midst of a suicidal crisis have temporarily had their own internal resources stretched to the limit and cannot bounce back. They are often desperately looking for another way out of their situation and are crying out for help. Such people are experiencing strong negative feelings and often cannot see any other solution. They need personal and professional support, not judgment from others. This labeling can make it harder for the person to reach out for help.
Myth: If someone asks me to keep their suicidal thoughts/plans a secret, I must keep that promise.
Fact: Avoid secrecy pacts: the outcome could be fatal. If there is a chance of a person harming himself or herself, confidentiality cannot be maintained – this information needs to be shared to save a life. Explain to the person that you are taking what they say very seriously and you cannot keep this secret. You need to tell others in order to get help for the person, but do not tell anyone who does not need to know.
Myth: Only experts can prevent suicide.
Fact: Whilst specialist help is necessary and effective, many people could die if emergency first aid or immediate support is either unavailable or not offered at the time of a suicidal crisis. Suicide prevention is therefore everybody's business.
Print-friendly version