What is suicide?
Suicide means causing yourself to die.
What should I do if I’m thinking about suicide or if I know someone who is?
Call a Centerstone Crisis Line or call/text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Both lines are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The service is available to anyone. All calls are confidential.
If you know someone who is considering suicide, do not leave them alone. Try to get your loved one to seek immediate help from their doctor or hospital emergency room, or call 911.
Remove any access they may have to guns or other potential tools for suicide, including medications.
Tell someone so they can help you. That someone can be any adult that you trust – parents, teachers, police officers, doctors, therapists.
What should I do if I need help?
Contact us to learn more about suicide prevention and how we can help. If you feel like you need immediate help, call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org to chat with someone 24/7.
Is suicide a big problem in the world?
Yes. Suicide is the 9th-leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the 2nd leading cause of death among individuals between ages 10 and 24.
According to the Jason Foundation, more teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza and chronic lung disease, combined.
Each day in our nation, there are an average of over 3,703 attempts by young people grades 9-12. If these percentages are additionally applied to grades 7 & 8, the numbers would be higher.
Frequently asked questions
Are there warning signs for suicide?
Yes, the following are common warning signs for people who are thinking about suicide:
- talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves
- looking for a way to kill themselves, such as searching online or buying a gun
- talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
- talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
- talking about being a burden to others
- increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
- acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly
- sleeping too little or too much
- withdrawing or isolating themselves
- showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
- displaying extreme mood swings
Do people who threaten suicide just want the attention?
No. People who threaten suicide should always be taken seriously. Helping people who say they are thinking about suicide may save their life.
Can suicide be prevented?
Yes. Learn more about the Zero Suicide Initiative and read our latest Health & Wellness articles on suicide prevention.
If you are in crisis, please call our crisis lines, call 911, call or text 988 for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit the nearest emergency room.
If you need help dealing with depression or have other mental health concerns, contact us today.
We know that there isn’t one solution that works for everyone, so our treatment options include you in the decision-making process.
