The presence of one or more of these warning signs is not intended as a guarantee that the person is suicidal: the only way to know for sure is to ask them. In other cases, a suicidal person may not want to be rescued, and may avoid giving warning signs.
Typical warning signs which are often exhibited by people who are feeling suicidal include:
- Withdrawing from friends and family
- Depression, broadly speaking; not necessarily a diagnosable mental illness such as clinical depression, but indicated by signs such as:
- Loss of interest in usual activities
- Showing signs of sadness, hopelessness, irritability
- Changes in appetite, weight, behavior, level of activity or sleep patterns
- Loss of energy
- Making negative comments about self
- Recurring suicidal thoughts or fantasies
- Sudden change from extreme depression to being `at peace' (may indicate that they have decided to attempt suicide)
- Talking, Writing or Hinting about suicide
- Previous attempts
- Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
- Purposefully putting personal affairs in order:
- Giving away possessions
- Sudden intense interest in personal wills or life insurance
- `Clearing the air' over personal incidents from the past
If a person is highly perturbed, has formed a potentially lethal plan to kill themselves and has the means to carry it out immediately available, they would be considered likely to attempt suicide.