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Suicide Myths |
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Myths |
Facts |
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People who talk about suicide never attempt or complete suicide |
Talking about suicide can be a plea for help and it can be a late sign before a suicide attempt. Those most at risk will show other signs apart from talking about suicide. |
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A promise to keep a note unopened and unread should always be kept |
Unless there is some everyday reason for this request, it should ring big alarm bells. If you think the person may be going to harm themselves or someone else, or has actually done harm, you do not have to keep the promise. A sealed note can be a sign that they are thinking and planning suicide. |
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Attempted or completed suicides happen without warning |
Those close to a person who has committed suicide often say they didn't know they were going to do it, but it is sometimes the case that they didn't see the warning signs. Get the info you need. |
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If a person attempts suicide and survives, they will never make a further attempt |
We may think people trying suicide will scare themselves, but afterwards they may have learned where they went wrong. When a person has made a suicide attempt they are much more likely to try again, and be more successful next time. |
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| People who threaten suicide are just seeking attention | We may feel annoyed with a person that threatens suicide over and over, but all suicide attempts must be treated seriously. They have probably tried to gain attention beforehand; therefore, some sort of attention is needed. Your attention may well save their lives. |
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| Talking about suicide or asking someone if they feel suicidal will encourage them to try suicide |
Negative and upsetting thoughts are far more powerful and difficult to manage inside our own heads than if we share them. There is absolutely no evidence that talking about suicide encourages suicide.
Talking about suicide is difficult for us, but not half as difficult as for the person we are talking to. Ask them how they are, listen to what they say, tell them you are concerned, and ask them if they are thinking about suicide. |
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| Suicide is hereditary. | Sometimes you can see patterns of suicide in families but it is not genetically inherited. There are other factors involved like your upbringing and the values and beliefs you learn from your family. The suicide of one person though can make other family members less fearful of trying it. |
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| Only certain types of people become suicidal. |
Suicide is a lot less to do with the type of person you are than with your life and your beliefs. Everyone has the potential for suicide.
There are some things that we know make suicide more likely, including being depressed, and feeling a lot of painful negative feelings like grief, rejection and anger. It is normal for us to have these feelings sometimes, but it is dangerous when they become overwhelming. |
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| Suicide is painless. | Suicide is about killing yourself, and it can be very difficult and very painful. For instance taking pills and drifting off to sleep can seem a comfy way to go, but overdoses of some pills can kill you very, very slowly. |
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| All suicidal people are depressed. | Depression is common in most suicides, but it's not always there for every suicide attempted or completed. Sometimes tension escalates very quickly. |
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| Marked and sudden improvement in the mental state of an attempter following a suicide crisis, depressive period, or psychotic episode signifies that the suicide risk is over | It may look like it, and you may feel relieved that things have lifted, but in actual fact the improvement may be due to the person making a firm decision to commit suicide. |
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| Suicidal people cannot help themselves |
Suicidal people can nearly always help themselves. Some people thinking about suicide may have unhelpful thinking patterns though, and it may not be clear that there are other ways to sort out their problems.
Other people can help by offering support, new perspectives, and ideas, which can help the suicidal person sort out their thinking. |
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| The only effective intervention for suicide comes from professional people with extensive experience in the area | It's good that this is a myth, as professionals are not always easy to find. Anyone can support and help a suicidal person, and many professionals rely on family and friends to support a suicidal person in their day to day life. |
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| Most suicidal people never seek or ask for help with their problems | In actual fact, most suicidal adults visit a medical doctor during the three months prior to killing themselves. Younger people may have other ways of asking for help, or may talk to their peers more than see a professional. |
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| Every death is preventable | It is important to be realistic. Some people will commit suicide no matter how we try to help them. We can try our hardest, but we can't prevent all deaths. |
