Nearly 80% of people who die by suicide give some sort of sign that they are
distressed and are considering suicide.
 An expert panel recently developed a revised list
 of warning signs that spell "IS PATH WARM".

I Ideation
S Substance Abuse

P Purposelessness
A Anxiety
T Trapped
H Hopelessness

W Withdrawal
A Anger
R Recklessness
M Mood Change

These warning signs may not be enough to cause a suicide attempt but raise the risk significantly. There are often other precipitating events that cause a person to act on their suicidal thoughts. These precipitating events are often crises in the form of:

  • Getting in trouble at school, work or with the law;
  • The threat of legal action;
  • Threat of or actual loss of a job or financial assets; relationship problems;
  • Fighting with parents or other family or friends;
  • The loss of a loved one through death;
  • Significant changes in family situations, such as divorce, or emotional, physical or sexual abuse.

    What can you do?

    Step 1: Learn to recognize the warning signs of suicide.

    Step 2: If you suspect someone you know is depressed and suicidal or could be suicidal, approach that person. Talk openly about depression and suicide and ask directly about whether the person in distress is thinking about suicide. Listen and affirm their feelings. Do not judge or debate whether feelings are right or wrong and don’t tell them or imply that they are wrong but do help them explore positive ways to solve their problems.

    Step 3: Be available and show interest and support for their situation.

    Step 4: Remove any means of suicide such as guns, ropes, knives and pills from their home. Assist them to get help from mental health or crisis intervention experts by calling or taking them to their family physician, your local mental health center, the behavioral health / psychiatric units or emergency departments of their local community hospital (click here for mental health resources in Indiana); or call
    1-800-273-TALK for further information.


Efforts to reduce suicidal behavior should include trying to avoid, ameliorate, or address
known risk factors, while promoting or aiding protective factors for suicide.


Biopsychosocial factors:
  • Mental disorders, particularly mood disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and certain personality disorders
  • Alcohol and other substance abuse disorders
  • Hopelessness
  • Impulsive and/or aggressive tendencies
  • History of trauma or abuse
  • Some major physical illnesses
  • Previous suicide attempt
  • Family history of suicide
    Environmental factors:
  • Job or financial loss
  • Relational or social loss
  • Easy access to lethal means
  • Local clusters of suicide that have a contagious influence
    Sociocultural factors:
  • Lack of social support and sense of isolation
  • Stigma associated with help-seeking behavior
  • Barriers to accessing health care, especially mental health and substance abuse treatment
  • Certain cultural and religious beliefs (e.g. the belief that suicide is a noble resolution of a personal dilemma)
  • Exposure to, including through the media, and influence of others who have died by suicide.

  • Effective clinical care for mental, physical and substance abuse disorders.
  • Easy access to a variety of clinical interventions and support for help seeking
  • Restricted access to highly lethal means of suicide
  • Strong connections to family & community support
  • Life skills & Resiliency (problem solving, conflict resolution and nonviolent handling of disputes)
  • Cultural & religious beliefs that discourage suicide & promote self-preservation, help-seeking behavior,
    and inter-dependence. (National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, 2001)
 



 
 
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