Lake County's Voice On Mental Illness
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Effective July 16, 2022, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached by simply dialing “988” to talk to someone.
If it is a life-threatening medical emergency in progress, please call “911”.
You can also call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255
NAMI Lake County Illinois can direct you to resources to lower the risk of suicide
Hopelessness can be a powerful liar. It tells people that they are alone, and makes people feel isolated, even if they are surrounded with love and support. In this state of mind, telling someone they are not alone can feel like a lie, too.
People who are thinking about suicide often don’t feel comfortable saying so. Their loved ones don’t know how to bring the topic up, or if they should. But there is hope: there are things we can do to help, and signs we can look out for.
NAMI Lake County Illinois can help. We can help both people experiencing crisis and the people who are worried about them. We are here to listen and help you make a plan for ongoing support.
Call 988 (1-800-273-8255) or if this is an emergency, call 911 and ask for a CIT-trained officer.
Suicide Risk Factors
Research has found that about 90% of individuals who die by suicide experience mental illness. Oftentimes it is undiagnosed or untreated. Experiencing a mental illness is the number one risk factor for suicide.
Risk Factors
A number of things may put a person at risk of suicide:
- Substance abuse, which can cause mental highs and lows that exacerbate suicidal thoughts
- Intoxication (more than one in three people who die from suicide are found to be intoxicated)
- Chronic medical illness
- Gender (though more women than men attempt suicide, men are 4 times more likely to die by suicide)
- History of trauma
- Isolation
- Age (people under age 24 or above age 65 are at a higher risk for suicide)
- Recent tragedy or loss
- Agitation and sleep deprivation
Environmental Factors
- Access to firearms (the majority of completed suicides involve the use of a firearm)
- Prolonged stress, such as harassment, bullying, relationship problems or unemployment
- Stressful life events, like rejection, divorce, financial crisis, other life transitions or loss
- Exposure to another person’s suicide, or to graphic or sensationalized accounts of suicide
Historical Factors
- Previous suicide attempts
- Family history of suicide
- Childhood abuse, neglect or trauma
Know the Warning Signs
Identifying the suicide warning signs is the first step towards protecting your loved one.
• Threats or comments about killing themselves, also known as suicidal ideation, can begin with seemingly harmless thoughts like “I wish I wasn’t here” but can become more overt and dangerous
• Increased alcohol and drug use
• Aggressive behavior. A person who’s feeling suicidal may experience higher levels of aggression and rage than they are used to.
• Social withdrawal from friends, family and the community.
• Dramatic mood swings indicate that your loved one is not feeling stable and may feel suicidal.
• Preoccupation with talking, writing or thinking about death.
• Impulsive or reckless behavior.
Talk
Red Flag Statements:
- “All of my problems will be over soon”
- “I don’t feel like I belong”
- “No one can do anything to help me”
- “I just can’t do this anymore”
- “I feel like such a burden to everyone”
- “No one would care if I was gone”
- “I just want to go to sleep forever”
Behavior
- Sleeping all the time, or not sleeping much at all
- Isolating or withdrawing from family or friends
- Physical health complaints like aches and pains
- Reckless behaviors, including increased use of alcohol or drugs
- Loss of interest in things that were once pleasurable
- Change in appearance, appetite or weight
Mood
- Desperation
- Overwhelming worry
- Anger
- Guilt or shame
- Worthlessness
- Loneliness
- Sadness
- Hopelessness
- Helplessness
Can Thoughts of Suicide Be Prevented?
NAMI Lake County IL believes that healing is possible. Psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy, can help a person with thoughts of suicide recognize unhealthy patterns of thinking and behavior, validate troubling feelings, and learn coping skills. Medication can be used if necessary to treat underlying depression and anxiety and can lower a person’s risk of hurting themselves. Depending on the person’s mental health diagnosis, other medications can be used to alleviate symptoms.
To Learn more:
https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Common-with-Mental-Illness/Risk-of-Suicide
