Facts and Myths About Suicide

1. Myth: People who talk about suicide don’t commit suicide.

Fact: Of any ten persons who kill themselves, eight have given definite warnings of their suicidal intentions.

2. Myth: Suicide happens without warning.

Fact: Studies reveal that the suicidal person gives many clues and warnings regarding his suicidal intentions.

3. Myth: Suicidal people are fully intent on dying.

Fact: Most suicidal people are undecided about living or dying, and they “gamble with death,” leaving it to others to save them. Almost no one commits suicide without letting others know how he is feeling.

4. Myth: Once a person is suicidal, he is suicidal forever.

Fact: Individuals who wish to kill themselves are suicidal only for a limited period of time. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

5. Myth: Improvement following a suicidal crisis means that the suicidal risk is over.

Fact: Most suicides usually occur within three months following the beginning of “improvement,” when the individual has the energy to put his morbid thoughts and feelings into effect.

6. Myth: Suicide is inherited or “runs in the family.”

Fact: Suicide does not run in families. It is an individual pattern.

7. Myth: Every person who commits suicide is mentally ill.

Fact: Although persons who commit suicide were often distraught, upset or depressed, many of them would not have been medically diagnosed as mentally ill.

8. Myth: A suicide attempt means that the person who attempts, will always entertain thoughts of suicide.

Fact: Often a suicide attempt is made during a particularly stressful period. If the remainder of that period can be appropriately managed, then the attempter can go on with life.

9. Myth: If you ask a client directly, “Do you feel like killing yourself?”, this will lead the person to make a suicide attempt.

Fact: Asking a person directly about suicidal intent will often minimize the anxiety surrounding the feeling and act as a deterrent to the suicidal behavior.

10. Myth: Suicide is more common among the lower socioeconomic groups.

Fact: Suicide crosses all socioeconomic groups.

11. Myth: Suicidal persons rarely seek medical help.

Fact: In the retrospective studies of committed suicide, more than half had sought medical help within the 6 months preceding the suicide. Of the 5,000 teenagers who committed suicide 50% sought help from a physician.

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