There are no effective or concrete stratagies in preventing suicides. However, American society of Sucidology brought up certain recommendations in identification of risk factors and warning signs to get aware of an individual at risk. American Society of Sucidology also came up with a pneumonic for warning signs 'IS PATH WARM".
Understanding the issues concerning suicide and mental health is the main stay in prevention of suicide occurrence. American Association of Suicidology recommends tow strategies for effective prevention.[1]
Warning signs help to determine one at risk for suicide, especially if the behavior is new, has increased, or seems related to a painful event. Warning signs include:
Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves
Looking for a way to kill themselves, like 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
Extreme mood swings
Pneumonic for Identification of risk factors
"IS PATH WARM"
I
Ideation
S
Substance abuse – Increased substance use
P
Purposelessness
A
Anxiety – Worry, fear, agitation, or changes in sleep pattern
T
Trapped – Feeling like there is no way out of a bad situation
↑Mulder R, Newton-Howes G, Coid JW (October 2016). "The futility of risk prediction in psychiatry". Br J Psychiatry. 209 (4): 271–272. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.116.184960. PMID27698212.
↑Rudd MD, Berman AL, Joiner TE, Nock MK, Silverman MM, Mandrusiak M, Van Orden K, Witte T (June 2006). "Warning signs for suicide: theory, research, and clinical applications". Suicide Life Threat Behav. 36 (3): 255–62. doi:10.1521/suli.2006.36.3.255. PMID16805653.