Suicide crisis

Feelings of or ideation with taking one's own life

Suicide

Social aspects

* ACEs
* Altruistic
* Bullying
* List of suicides attributed to bullying
* Copycat
* Dysfunctional family
* Emotional isolation
* Epidemic
* Identity performance
* Legislation
* Loneliness
* Philosophy
* Religious views
* Right to die
* School bullying
* Shame
* Social alienation
* Social defeat
* Social exclusion
* Social invisibility
* Social isolation
* Social rejection
* Social media and suicide
* Social support
* Toxic workplace
* Voluntary euthanasia
* Workplace bullying

Crisis

* Assessment of risk
* Beck Hopelessness Scale
* Crisis hotline (list)
* IS PATH WARM?
* SAD PERSONS scale
* Intervention
* Prevention
* Suicide attempt
* Suicide watch

Types and methods

* Assisted
* Bullying and suicide (list)
* Cop
* Copycat
* Familicide
* Forced
* Hanging
* Honor
* Jauhar
* Jumping
* Mass
* Murder–suicide
* Pact
* Internet
* Pilot
* Prayopavesa
* Prisoner suicide
* Rail
* Sallekhana
* Sati
* Self-sacrifice
* Senicide
* Seppuku
* Sokushinbutsu
* Suicide attack
* Vatakkiruttal
* Vehicle collision

Epidemiology

* Gender differences
* LGBTQ people
* Mormon
* Methods
* Rate by country
* Seasonal effects
* Suicidal person
* Youth mental health crisis
* Youth suicide

History

* List of suicides
* LGBTQ suicides
* Suicide in antiquity
* List of suicides in the 21st century

In warfare

* Banzai charge
* Kamikaze
* Suicide mission

Related phenomena

* Anguish
* Alcoholism
* Anhedonia
* Animal loss
* Anxiety disorder
* Asperger syndrome
* Autism spectrum
* Conditions comorbid to autism
* Biology of depression
* Epigenetics of depression
* Causes of mental disorders
* Chronic condition
* Chronic pain
* Coping
* Coping planning
* Depression (mood)
* Diseases of despair
* Diseases of poverty
* Echo chamber
* Existential crisis
* Financial crisis
* Grief
* suicide bereavement
* Ideation
* Interpersonal relationships
* Locations
* Major depressive disorder
* Mental disorder
* Mental health first aid
* Neurodevelopmental disorder
* Non-suicidal self-injury
* Perfectionism
* Personal finance
* Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
* Poverty
* Psychological first aid
* Psychological stress
* Psychological trauma
* Schizophrenia
* Self-harm
* Self-hatred
* Substance abuse
* Suffering
* Suicidal ambivalence
* Suicide and the Internet
* Suicide and trauma
* Suicide awareness
* Suicide in colleges in the United States
* Suicide in music subcultures
* Suicide note
* Suicide survivor
* Suicide terminology
* Suicide tourism
* Suicidology
* Warning signs of suicide

By country

* Rate by country
* Afghanistan
* Australia
* Bangladesh
* Cameroon
* Canada
* China
* France
* Greenland
* India
* Iran
* Ireland
* Japan
* Lesotho
* Lithuania
* Nepal
* Pakistan
* Romania
* Russia
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* South Korea
* Spain
* Sri Lanka
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom
* United States

Organizations

* Compassion & Choices
* Death with Dignity National Center
* Dignitas
* Exit International
* Final Exit Network
* Hemlock Society

* v
* t
* e

A suicide crisis, suicidal crisis or potential suicide is a situation in which a person is attempting to kill themselves or is seriously contemplating or planning to do so. It is considered by public safety authorities, medical practice, and emergency services to be a medical emergency, requiring immediate suicide intervention and emergency medical treatment. Suicidal presentations occur when an individual faces an emotional, physical, or social problem they feel they cannot overcome and considers suicide to be a solution. Clinicians usually attempt to re-frame suicidal crises, point out that suicide is not a solution and help the individual identify and solve or tolerate the problems.[1]

## Nature

[edit]

Most cases of potential suicide have warning signs.[2][3] Attempting to kill oneself, talking about or planning suicide, writing a suicide note, talking or thinking frequently about death, exhibiting a death wish by expressing it verbally or by taking potentially deadly risks, or taking steps towards attempting suicide (e.g., obtaining rope and tying it to a ligature point to attempt a hanging or stockpiling pills for an attempted overdose) are all indicators of a suicide crisis. More subtle clues include preparing for death for no apparent reason (such as putting affairs in order, changing a will, etc.), writing goodbye letters, and visiting or calling family members or friends to say farewell. The person may also start giving away previously valued items (because they "no longer need them"). In other cases, the person who seemed depressed and suicidal may become normal or filled with energy or calmness again; these people particularly need to be watched because the return to normalcy could be because they have come to terms with whatever act is next (e.g., a plan to attempt suicide and "escape" from their problems).

Depression is a major causative factor of suicide, and individuals with depression are considered a high-risk group for suicidal behavior. However, suicidal behaviour is not just restricted to patients diagnosed with some form of depression.[4] More than 90% of all suicides are related to a mood disorder, such as bipolar disorder, depression, addiction, PTSD, or other psychiatric illnesses, such as schizophrenia.[5] The deeper the depression, the greater the risk,[6] often manifested in feelings or expressions of apathy, helplessness, hopelessness, or worthlessness.[7]

Suicide is often committed in response to a cause of depression, such as the cessation of a romantic relationship, serious illness or injury (like the loss of a limb or blindness), the death of a loved one, financial problems or poverty, guilt or fear of getting caught for something the person did, drug abuse, old age, concerns with gender identity, among others.[8]

### Treatments

[edit]

Crisis hotlines, such as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, enable people to get immediate emergency telephone counselling

Ketamine has been tested for treatment-resistant bipolar depression, major depressive disorder, and people in a suicidal crisis in emergency rooms, and is being used this way off-label.[9][10] The drug is given by a single intravenous infusion at doses less than those used in anesthesia, and preliminary data have indicated it produces a rapid (within 2 hours) and relatively sustained (about 1–2 weeks long) significant reduction in symptoms in some patients.[11] Initial studies with ketamine have sparked scientific and clinical interest due to its rapid onset,[12] and because it appears to work by blocking NMDA receptors for glutamate, a different mechanism from most modern antidepressants that operate on other targets.[9][13] Some studies have shown that lithium medication can reduce suicidal ideation within 48 hours of administration.

### Intervention

[edit]

Intervention is important to stop someone in a suicidal crisis from harming or killing themselves. Every sign of suicide should be taken seriously. Steps to take in order to help defuse the situation or get the person in crisis to safety include:[14]

* Stay with the person so they are not alone.
* Call 988 (if in the U.S.) or another suicide hotline, or take the person to the nearest hospital facility.
* Reach out to a family member or friend about what is going on.

In many countries police negotiators will be called to respond to situations where a person is at high risk of an immediate suicide crisis.[15] However offers of help are frequently rejected in these situations, because they have not been directly sought by the person in crisis, who wants to maintain a level of independence. Supporting those in crisis to make independent decisions,[16][17] and adapting terminology, for example using the phrase ‘sort (x) out’[18] can aid in minimising resistance to the help being offered.

If a friend or loved one is talking about suicide but is not yet in crisis, the following steps should be taken to help them get professional help and feel supported:[14]

* Call a suicide hotline number; the U.S. numbers are 988 or 800-273-8255.
* Remove dangerous objects, such as guns and knives, from the home.
* Offer reassurance and support.
* Help the person to seek medical treatment.

## See also

[edit]

* Depression
* Major depressive disorder
* Mental health first aid
* Psychological first aid
* Suicide
* Suicidal ideation
* Suicide prevention
* Warning signs of suicide

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Murray, Declan (2016-02-18). "Is it time to abandon suicide risk assessment?". BJPsych Open. 2 (1): e1 – e2. doi:10.1192/bjpo.bp.115.002071. ISSN 2056-4724. PMC 4998936. PMID 27703761.
2. ^ Britton PC, Ilgen MA, Rudd MD, Conner KR (2012). "Warning signs for suicide within a week of healthcare contact in Veteran decedents". Psychiatry Res. 200 (2–3): 395–9\. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2012.06.036. PMC 5064427. PMID 22796102.2–3&rft.pages=395-9&rft.date=2012&rft_id=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5064427#id-name=PMC&rft_id=info:pmid/22796102&rft_id=info:doi/10.1016/j.psychres.2012.06.036&rft.aulast=Britton&rft.aufirst=PC&rft.au=Ilgen,+MA&rft.au=Rudd,+MD&rft.au=Conner,+KR&rft_id=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5064427&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Suicide+crisis" class="Z3988">
3. ^ "Warning Signs of Suicide". University of Maryland. Archived from the original on 2017-10-23. Retrieved 2017-10-23.
4. ^ Barker, P. (2003). Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing The craft of caring. pp 227. New York, NY: Oxford University Press Inc.
5. ^ "Suicide and suicidal behavior". MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. 15 January 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
6. ^ Stewart, George (2004). "Suicide & Mental Distress". Suicide Reference Library. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
7. ^ "Understanding the Symptoms of Depression". WebMD. 12 November 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
8. ^ "Suicide". 2 March 2004. Archived from the original on 25 May 2006. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
9. ^ a b Caddy; et al. (Apr 2014). "pharmacodynamic actions, and a systematic review and meta-analysis of efficacy". Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 4 (2): 75–99\. doi:10.1177/2045125313507739. PMC 3952483. PMID 24688759.
10. ^ Tondo L; et al. (Feb 2014). "Options for pharmacological treatment of refractory bipolar depression". Curr. Psychiatry Rep. 16 (2) 431. doi:10.1007/s11920-013-0431-y. PMID 24425269. S2CID 24308373.
11. ^ ECRI Institute, under contract to AHRQ. December 2013 AHRQ Healthcare Horizon Scanning System – Potential High-Impact Interventions Report. Priority Area 05: Depression and Other Mental Health Disorders Archived 2014-08-08 at the Wayback Machine
12. ^ National Institute of Mental Health (7 August 2006). "Experimental Medication Kicks Depression in Hours Instead of Weeks". NIH News (Press release). National Institutes of Health; Dept. of Health and Human Services; United States. "National Institute of Mental Health director Thomas Insel said, "To my knowledge, this is the first report of any medication or other treatment that results in such a pronounced, rapid, prolonged response with a single dose. These were very treatment-resistant patients.""
13. ^ Naughton, M; Clarke, G; O'Leary, OF; Cryan, JF; Dinan, TG (Mar 2014). "A review of ketamine in affective disorders: current evidence of clinical efficacy, limitations of use and pre-clinical evidence on proposed mechanisms of action". Journal of Affective Disorders. 156: 24–35\. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2013.11.014. PMID 24388038.
14. ^ a b Hall-Flavin, Daniel (2018). "Suicide: What to do when someone is suicidal". Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
15. ^ Clugston, Bobbie; Meurk, Carla; Harris, Meredith; Burgess, Philip; Heffernan, Ed (2024). "Persons with mental disorders and suicidality in crisis or high-risk situations involving police negotiation: a systematic review". Psychiatry, Psychology and Law. 31 (1): 57–75\. doi:10.1080/13218719.2023.2175066. ISSN 1321-8719. PMC 10916924. PMID 38455272.
16. ^ Sikveland, Rein Ove; Kevoe-Feldman, Heidi; Stokoe, Elizabeth (2019-02-01). "Overcoming suicidal persons' resistance using productive communicative challenges during police crisis negotiations". Applied Linguistics. 41 (4): 533–551\. doi:10.1093/applin/amy065. ISSN 0142-6001.
17. ^ Sikveland, Rein; Kevoe-Feldman, Heidi; Stokoe, Elizabeth (2019-02-01). "Overcoming suicidal persons' resistance using productive communicative challenges during police crisis negotiations". Loughborough University Research Repository. doi:10.1093/applin/amy065'] (inactive 12 July 2025).`{{cite journal}}`: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)
18. ^ Sikveland, Rein Ove; Stokoe, Elizabeth (2023-07-12). "A Cry for "Help"? How Crisis Negotiators Overcome Suicidal People's Resistance to Offers of Assistance". Journal of Language and Social Psychology. 42 (5–6): 565–588\. doi:10.1177/0261927x231185734. hdl:11250/3114867. ISSN 0261-927X.5–6&rft.pages=565-588&rft.date=2023-07-12&rft_id=info:hdl/11250/3114867&rft.issn=0261-927X&rft_id=info:doi/10.1177/0261927x231185734&rft.aulast=Sikveland&rft.aufirst=Rein+Ove&rft.au=Stokoe,+Elizabeth&rft_id=http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0261927x231185734&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Suicide+crisis" class="Z3988">

## External links

[edit]

* National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (US) - 24-hour, toll-free suicide prevention service for persons in a suicide crisis.
* Ligature Resistant - Preventing suicides.

* v
* t
* e

Suicide

Suicide crisis|

* Assessment of suicide risk
* Crisis hotline
* list
* Suicidal ideation
* Suicide intervention
* Suicidology
* Suicide prevention
* Suicide watch
* Warning signs

Social aspects|

* Advocacy
* Altruistic
* Awareness
* Interpersonal theory
* Legislation
* Philosophy of suicide
* Religious views
* Euthanasia
* Right to die
* Social media and suicide
* Suicide survivor
* bereavement
* Literature
* Terminology
* Suicide and the Internet

Suicide types|

* Assisted suicide
* list
* Bullying and suicide
* list
* Charcoal-burning
* Copycat
* Epidemic
* Familicide
* Forced
* Gunshot
* Hanging
* Honor
* Immolation
* Jumping from height
* locations
* Mass
* Murder–suicide
* Vatakkiruttal
* Seppuku
* Sokushinbutsu
* Sallekhana
* Sati
* Prayopavesa
* By train
* London Underground
* Self-sacrifice
* Banzai charge
* Kamikaze
* Senicide
* Suicide attack
* By cop
* By pilot
* Pact
* Suicide pill
* Vehicular

Epidemiology|

* Sex differences
* List of countries by suicide rate
* Antidepressants and suicide risk

History|

* Suicide in antiquity
* List of suicides
* heads of state and government
* in the 21st century

Related|

* Animal suicide
* Autism
* Caring letters
* Consensual homicide
* Last words
* Self-harm
* Suicide methods
* Suicide note
* Suicide attempt
* Suicide prevention contract
* Tourism

By subculture|

* Doctors
* LGBTQ people
* list
* Mormon
* Military
* Music subcultures
* Prisoners
* Youth

By country|

* Afghanistan
* Australia
* Bangladesh
* Belarus
* Bhutan
* Cameroon
* Canada
* China
* France
* Denmark
* Greenland
* Greece
* Guyana
* Hong Kong
* student
* India
* youth
* farmers
* Iran
* Ireland
* Japan
* Kazakhstan
* Lesotho
* Lithuania
* Mexico
* Mozambique
* Nepal
* Nigeria
* Pakistan
* Romania
* Russia
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* South Korea
* LGBT youth
* Spain
* Sri Lanka
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom
* Assisted suicide
* United States
* Assisted suicide
* college
* farmers
* military veteran
* Native American
* teenage
* Uruguay

Authority control databases: National |

* United States
* Latvia
* Israel

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