Recognising the Signs of Suicide & Knowing When to Act

Australia recently had its most successful Olympics ever, and many historic moments were shared among the athletes. We saw our swimmers blaze through the water, our skateboarders tear up the concrete, and our cyclists ride into glory. However, when athletes don’t perform at their best, we’re quick to mock and criticise, exampled during and long after – Raygun’s breakdancing performance. Yet, it begs the question: How are they feeling? Do we over-criticise? It’s more important than ever to be sensitive to and, more importantly, care about the impact of our words. It’s incumbent on all of us to consider how our language affects others, especially those around us.

On the 10^th of September, it’s World Suicide Prevention Day. For many, suicide remains a misunderstood and unsettling topic. But there are some things we know and better understand today than we may have in the past. Usually, there are many warning signs, risk factors, and more to indicate that a person is struggling. They could possibly be significantly depressed or even considering taking their own life. We’re all human at the end of the day, and many of us are impacted by mockery, taunting, and hurtful comments. So, this month, with R U OK? Day and World Suicide Prevention Day in mind, how can we support one another to prevent suicide?

Understanding The Impact Of Suicide

According to Suicide Prevention Australia, in 2022, 3,249 Australians tragically took their own lives. Echoing this statistic, Lifeline reports that 8.6 Australians take their own life every day – more than double the number of deaths on Aussie roads. And, demographically, men are three times more likely to commit suicide than women. However, women are also significantly impacted by moderate to severe mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and body image issues.

Encouragingly, there are clear signs that people are reaching out and want help. Every 28 seconds, Lifeline receives a call, and each year, 1 million Australians reach out to Lifeline for support. Here at Converge, we performed nearly 200,000 hours of employee wellbeing consultations during 2023. Over that same period, mental and social wellbeing were the two main reasons people contacted our consultants for support. But what more can we do to recognise the signs of suicidal risk and act before it’s too late?

What Are The Signs That Someone’s Considering Suicide?

We all wish we could do more for our loved ones, especially when they’re struggling with their mental or physical health. So, there are potential signs to look out for, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, that may increase risk of suicide:

• They talk about suicide and death.
• Express feelings of being a burden.
• They feel hopeless, trapped, lonely, and extremely sad.
• They may have researched ways to commit suicide, created a plan or written a note.
• They’re withdrawing, saying goodbye, or giving away their possessions unnecessarily.
• They may also be demonstrating new or extreme behaviours and engage in higher-risk behaviours and substance abuse.
• Their sleeping patterns are highly irregular for them – they could be sleeping more or less than usual.
• When you interact with them, they may show extreme mood swings

There are individual differences in the potential early warning signs for suicide, some more subtle, others less so.  Be attuned to behaviour and communication that is not typical for the individual you may be monitoring or concerned about.

What We Can Do To Support Someone Considering Suicide

While this month includes World Suicide Prevention Day, remember: it’s also R U OK? Day on September 12^th. Both days are aimed at raising awareness around mental health struggles and reducing suicide and other severe forms of mental illness.

Both days also promote the power of a conversation and how it can change someone’s perspective; knowing there’s someone there who cares and is willing to help could change their negative mental health trajectory they are experiencing. But how do we have those conversations? Well, one model to follow is the ALEC framework:

• Ask: Reach out to the person you’re concerned about if they’re okay and if they need help.
• Listen: Actively listen while withholding judgment. It’s essential that you remain open-minded in this phase, show that you care by listening attentively, and allow the individual to feel safe being honest and vulnerable with you.
• Encourage Action: This is one of the most important steps. If you feel comfortable doing so, ask them to seek support from their GP in the first instance. If they are not prepared to do that, consider a trained professional or funded work program like EAP so that risk can be assessed and proportionate action can be taken.
• Check-In: Just because you’ve reached out once doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. Frequently check in after you’ve had a chat to ensure they know you’re committed to supporting them in the long term and that you care about their welfare. If you need to, return to step one and repeat until they’re in a better headspace, do so. But keep checking in with questions like… How are you travelling? How did you sleep? Are you okay?

Where & How To Find Help

Help is always around the corner. If it’s an emergency, call 000 instantly. Otherwise, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or text 0477 131 114. There is also the Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467. For short to long-term support, visit a GP to obtain a mental health plan and psychologist referral.

You can also contact your EAP. At Converge, we support over 2 million employees and their families nationally with comprehensive and expert mental health support and wellbeing care anytime, anywhere. Check with your HR team today to see if we’re your EAP. If we are, booking an appointment has never been easier. You can utilise our online booking platform on our website or via the Converge App, which also hosts our live chat feature. We’re here to support you this R U OK? Day, World Suicide Prevention Day, and beyond!