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If you have concerns that a loved one, friend, or colleague may be thinking about suicide, check the warning signs and what to do for next steps. The more warning signs a person shows, the greater the risk.
Warning signs of suicide2
- Talking about wanting to die
- Looking for a way to kill oneself
- Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose
- Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
- Talking about being a burden to others
- Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
- Acting anxious, agitated or recklessly
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Withdrawing or feeling isolated
- Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
- Displaying extreme mood swings
What to do3
If someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide:
- Do not leave the person alone
- Remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs, or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt
- Call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 (800) 273-TALK (8255)
- Take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional
Featured Articles
Suicide Prevention Awareness Topics
Suicide Risk Factors and Warning Signs
Discover the factors and warning signs associated with suicide risk.
Understanding Risk for Teens, Elderly, and Military Veterans
Learn why there is higher risk of death by suicide for teenagers, seniors, and military veterans, as well as what to look for and steps you can take to help.
Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC)
The SPRC is a federally supported resource center where you can find online resources, tool kits, and fact sheets to help take effective action against suicide risk factors.
How We All Can Prevent Suicide
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers free, 24/7 confidential support, and its website offers information and resources geared to prevention, as well as stories of hope and recovery.
When you are concerned about someone’s risk for suicide, it can be difficult to know what to say. Get guidance on how to start the conversation and available resources.
I’m Concerned About Someone Else
Save.org is a U.S. non-profit seeking to prevent suicide through public awareness and education. Their website offers information on how to help someone who may be in crisis or thinking about suicide.
Responding to Suicide Warning Signs: A Guide for Managers and HR Professionals
Understand the warning signs of suicide risk in the workplace and get suggestions on what to do if you are concerned about an employee.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers free, 24/7 confidential support, and its website offers targeted resources to help individuals and their loved ones with coping and recovery after a suicide attempt.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers free, 24/7 confidential support and its website offers targeted information to help if you have lost a loved one to suicide.
Intro to National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI)
Part of Cigna's Behavioral Awareness Series, this audio recording provides an overview of the programs offered through NAMI to help those affected by mental health conditions.
Mental Health First AidTM is an 8-hour course to help you develop skills for assisting someone who is in crisis or experiencing mental health problems.
Get an understanding of the various levels of care available for mental health treatment.
Find important crisis phone numbers and access Cigna's Behavioral Awareness Series for Children and Families.
Stamp Out Stigma is dedicated to reducing the stigma tied to mental health and substance use disorders. Cigna is a member of the Assn. for Behavioral Health and Wellness, the organization spearheading it.
Physical Symptoms of Depression
Find out more about the symptoms of depression and how depression affects the body, as well as some ways to manage and treat depression.
Increase your basic understanding of symptoms, causes, and treatment of depression.
Interactive Tool: Are You Depressed?
Use this interactive tool to help you assess your symptoms and find out if you might have depression, which is treatable.
Topics by Group
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers free, 24/7 confidential support, and its website offers targeted information and support for youth.
“A Friend Asks” app from The Jason Foundation
“A Friend Asks” is a free app created by the Jason Foundation to help prevent death by suicide. The app contains warning signs, how to help a friend, how to get help now, and what to do and what not to do.
The Jason Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention of youth death by suicide. The goal of their “I Won’t Be Silent” challenge is to trigger a national dialogue about this silent epidemic.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers free, 24/7 confidential support, and they also created the You Matter site, a safe online space where youth can discuss share stories and find resources for help.
Adolescent Suicide Prevention Seminar
Part of Cigna's Behavioral Awareness Series, this audio presentation by Morgan Marks of the Jason Foundation raises awareness about youth death by suicide and offers resources to help.
Children and teens can also struggle with depression. Learn about the warning signs and how to assist.
Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide (SPTS)
SPTS is a non-profit dedicated to reducing the number of youth deaths by suicide and attempted suicides. On its website, view their “Not My Kid” video, as well as resources for parents, teens, and educators.
Understanding Risk for Teens, Elderly, and Military Veterans
Learn why there is a higher risk of death by suicide for teenagers, seniors, and military veterans, as well as what to look for and steps you can take to help.
Youth Mental Health First AidTM is an 8-hour course geared to those adults who wish to learn how to help an adolescent (ages 12-18) who is in crisis or experiencing mental health or addiction issues.
Understanding Risk for Teens, Elderly, and Military Veterans
Learn why there is a higher risk of death by suicide for teenagers, seniors, and military veterans, as well as what to look for and steps you can take to help.
Find out more about depression in older adults, including information about causes, warning signs, and how to get help.
Institute on Aging’s Friendship Line
The Friendship Line is a 24/7 crisis line dedicated to the needs of individuals age 60 and older and adults living with disabilities. The program also makes emotional support outreach calls to lonely seniors.
Part of the Center for Healthy Aging’s “Older Americans Behavioral Health” series, this webinar offers an overview of the resources available from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
This national organization provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers free, 24/7 confidential support and its website offers targeted information and support for the LGBTQ+ community.
The LGBT National Help Center is a non-profit organization that offers peer support and a searchable listing of resources across the U.S. They operate 3 national hotlines.
Trans Lifeline is a national non-profit group who offers emotional support and services to trans people in crisis, including a peer-support crisis hotline, 1 (877) 565-8860.
Read about the health disparities which impact the physical and behavioral health of LGBT people, as well as what Cigna is doing to reduce these disparities.
Understanding Risk for Teens, Elderly, and Military Veterans
Learn why there is higher risk of death by suicide for teenagers, seniors, and military veterans, as well as what to look for and steps you can take to help.
Living with PTSD and War Experience: What It Is and What to Do
Learn about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), common symptoms, and available support.
This non-profit is dedicated to “healing the invisible wounds of war” for veterans, service members, and their families with a focus on suicide prevention, substance use, PTSD, and traumatic brain injury.
National Veterans Foundation is a non-profit provides outreach services for veterans and their families. Their free, 24/7 Lifeline for Vets has trained veterans available to help at 1 (888) 777- 4443.
The Veterans Crisis Line offers free, confidential crisis support via phone, online chat, and text options. It is supported through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline with specially trained crisis responders.
In the Workplace
Responding to Suicide Warning Signs: A Guide for Managers and HR Professionals
Understand the warning signs of suicide risk in the workplace and get suggestions on what to do if you are concerned about an employee.
Learn about the symptoms of depression in the workplace and what to do if you are concerned about an employee who may be depressed.
National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. This National Alliance on Mental Illness site offers resources and information to support awareness initiatives in the workplace.
Stamp Out Stigma is dedicated to reducing stigma tied to mental health and substance use disorders. Cigna is a member of the Assn. for Behavioral Health and Wellness, the organization spearheading it.
Mental Health First AidTM at Work
Mental Health First AidTM at Work is a training program to help develop skills for assisting someone who is in crisis or experiencing mental health problems. The program can be offered in the workplace.
Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC)
The SPRC is a federally supported resource center where you can find online resources, tool kits, and fact sheets that may be helpful to support prevention awareness in the workplace.
When you are concerned about someone’s risk for suicide, it can be difficult to know what to say. Get guidance on how to start the conversation and available resources.
How to Deal with Depression at Work
Learn about symptoms and strategies for yourself or as a concerned co-worker for dealing with depression in the workplace.
1American Association of Suicidology, https://suicidology.org/facts-and-statistics/, Accessed August 22, 2019.
2American Association of Suicidology, https://suicidology.org/resources/warning-signs/, Accessed August 22, 2019.
3National Alliance on Mental Illness, https://www.nami.org/learn-more/mental-health-conditions/related-conditions/suicide, Accessed August 22, 2019.
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