Key Takeaways
- Suicide prevention begins with empathy, awareness, and understanding key warning signs and risk factors.
- Language matters: Avoid phrases like “threatening” or "committed suicide" to reduce stigma and encourage compassion.
- Groups at highest risk of death include veterans, older white males, and those working in blue-collar or shift-based occupations. But suicide can affect people of all backgrounds.
- Effective, research-backed treatments are available, including DBT, CBT-SP, CAMS, CALM, ACT, and the Zero Suicide Framework.
- Creating a personal suicide safety or crisis response plan and knowing how to support others in crisis are essential, practical steps.
- Psych Hub provides immediate access to trusted, compassionate resources and specialized mental health care—you're never alone in this.
Why we don’t say “committed” suicide
The language we use around suicide shapes attitudes and impacts willingness to seek help. For example, "committing” suicide historically implied unlawful behavior, which would in turn reinforce stigma.
Today, mental health professionals, survivor advocates, and language guidelines emphasize respectful terms that reduce shame and stigma, such as:²
- “Died by suicide”
- “Lost to suicide”
- “Ended their life”
These phrases acknowledge the person’s humanity and emphasize that suicide is often tied to overwhelming mental health struggles, not moral failing or illegal actions.
Clear terminology helps people better understand the complexities of suicide, and non-judgmental definitions deepens empathy and reduces stigma.
- Suicide: The act of intentionally ending one's own life.
- Suicidal ideation: Persistent thoughts or mental plans related to self-harm or ending life.
- Suicide attempt: Any self-directed action with potential for death when the individual survives.
- Suicidal tendencies: Repeated self-harm behaviors or high-risk actions indicating frequent crisis engagement.³
If you’re experiencing suicidal thoughts,
call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Or, text HOME to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.
Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7.
Find a suicide or grief specialist near you
Suicide risk factors
Knowing what increases suicide risk is critical to early intervention. Factors range from mental health struggles and chronic pain to job loss or social isolation, making awareness key to prevention.
Risk factors for suicide are multiple and often interlinked:
- Mental health disorders, particularly anxiety and depression
- Substance misuse
- Economic stress or unemployment
- Chronic physical pain or illness
- Loneliness or social isolation
Certain populations face significantly higher risk:
- Military veterans: A result of trauma, PTSD, and difficulty reintegrating into civilian life⁴
- Men: Older white males, especially ages 55+, are at high risk due to stigma and declining health⁵
- Blue-collar or shift-based workers: Workplace stress, financial insecurity, and cultural resistance to help-seeking⁶
Explore focused resources in our guide to men's mental health.
Warning signs of suicide
Recognizing early warning signs can save lives. Behavioral and emotional changes are often subtle, but they consistently precede suicidal actions.
- Talking about feeling hopeless, trapped, or a burden
- Withdrawing from people and enjoying things less
- Changes in sleep, appetite, or mood
- Risky behaviors
- Giving away possessions
These are recognized warning signs of suicide—not normal stress. Trusting your instincts and acting can redirect a crisis trajectory.
Download our "Know the Signs" resource for more information
Protective factors & suicide prevention strategies
Effective suicide prevention involves nurturing the protective factors that significantly reduce suicide risk and can reinforce resilience during difficult times. These factors include:
- Healthy relationships and social connection
- Accessible, quality mental health care
- Purposeful involvement—volunteering, employment, faith
- Emotional coping techniques (e.g., mindfulness, exercise)
- Limited access to lethal means⁷
Suicide prevention strategies center on strengthening these protective factors and reducing barriers to care. Most individuals who experience suicidal thoughts do not attempt suicide, and most people who do have a suicide attempt do not go on to make a subsequent suicide attempt. Many live better and longer when supported, understood, and planned for.
How to support someone you’re worried about
Supporting someone experiencing suicidal thoughts requires ongoing care, patience, and consistency, showing the individual that their life truly matters.
Being there for someone in crisis can feel daunting, but here’s what really helps:
- Watch for warning signs
- Start with honest empathy: “I care about you.”
- Offer to call 988 or schedule therapy together
- Keep showing that you care, even after crisis fades
Learn more in our guide “How to Help Someone Who is Having Suicidal Thoughts”
How to talk about suicide
Openly addressing suicide reduces stigma and facilitates help-seeking. Knowing how to talk directly but compassionately creates safe conversations.
What to say
- "Are you thinking about suicide?"
- "I'm here, and you're not alone."
- "We’ll get through this together."
What not to say
- "Just cheer up."
- “Others have it worse.”
- Promise secrecy
Encouraging direct, warm communication reduces stigma and invites help, not harm.¹⁰
Evidence-based therapy for suicide
These proven therapies give real hope, offering structured interventions that help manage suicidal thoughts and rebuild emotional resilience.⁴
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Focuses on emotional self-regulation, distress tolerance, and mindful awareness—essential for those facing intense emotional responses like suicidal thoughts.¹¹
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention (CBT‑SP) Targets suicidal thought patterns and encourages real-time coping skills, and individualized crisis response planning.¹²
Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) Centers treatment on the individual's “drivers” of suicide risk with collaboration, empathy, and honesty. CAMS is proven to reduce hopelessness and distress and increase hope in 6 to 8 sessions.¹³
Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM) Prevents impulsive actions by removing or securing lethal means in at-risk individuals’ environments.¹⁴
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Teaches mindfulness and values-based living, helping individuals hold pain without being consumed by it.¹⁵
Zero Suicide Framework Systems that use this comprehensive approach aimed do by making a proactive effort to use consistent suicide risk screenings, rapid detection, and robust treatment and support.²⁰
These therapies are more than talk—they reduce actual suicide attempts and improve emotional well-being.
Find a mental health provider near you
Make a suicide safety (or crisis response) plan
A safety plan provides clear actions for individuals in crisis, offering a crucial tool for managing overwhelming moments with tangible steps.
A suicide safety plan is like a personal emergency map—clear, structured, and actionable:
- Identify warning signs and triggers
- List internal coping strategies (e.g., breathing exercises)
- Note trusted contacts and crisis lines
- Secure your environment to reduce access to lethal means
- Know when and where to get professional help¹⁶
Write down your plan when you are feeling calm and focused, and keep it in an easily accessible place. During moments of crisis, memory and logical thinking may be more challenging, so referring to your written plan makes it easier to follow-through.
Start building your free safety plan today
Getting help in a crisis
Immediate, knowledgeable support during a crisis is essential for preventing harm. Calling crisis lines like 988 connects individuals to timely, compassionate care.
When a person shows danger signs, immediate attention is non-negotiable:
- Call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- Remove lethal means (firearms, medications) temporarily
- Stay with them and use calm, empathetic conversation
- If safety is at urgent risk, call 911
988 counselors are trained to help with connections to veterans support, LGBT+ communities, and other tailored assistance.⁹
Postvention: Support after a suicide attempt
or loss
Postvention helps survivors navigate complex grief and trauma after suicide loss, providing essential resources and support to heal and rebuild. In fact, individuals who have experienced a suicide loss are at higher risk for their own suicidal crisis. The right postvention support helps to reduce this risk. This can include:
- Accessing grief counseling and survivor peer groups
- Engaging in therapy and stigma education
- Journaling or other healthy routines to process loss
Learn more in our guide "Grieving a Suicide"
Find your mental health ally
Recovery from suicidal ideation or grief following a loss is possible, and help is always within reach. The right mental health support can change everything.
Psych Hub connects you to resources and expert care, ensuring you never face these challenges alone.
Common questions about suicide
Understanding common questions clarifies misconceptions and strengthens community response, reinforcing the message that suicidal crises are preventable.
Why do people commit suicide?
Using phrases like “commit suicide” contribute to the stigma around mental health. Individuals often die by suicide because they feel overwhelmed by psychological pain—depression, trauma, illness, or grief. Suicide can seem like the only escape when emotional suffering becomes unbearable.
When is someone considered suicidal?
Any expression of suicidal thoughts, planning, or persistent risk-indicating behavior (like self-harm or giving items away) signals acute concern.
Who is more at risk for suicide?
Veterans, older white men, individuals with depression, and those in blue-collar or shift-based jobs face heightened suicide risk due to stigma, isolation, and occupational stress. However, suicide affects many demographics.
What should I do in a mental health crisis?
Call or text 988, safely remove lethal means, stay with the person, and follow through with professional help or emergency services as needed. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
What are two types of warning signs of suicide?
- Emotional signs: hopelessness, feeling trapped, burdened, or mood swings
- Behavioral signs: withdrawal, giving away possessions, self-harm behaviors
How do you treat suicidal people?
Through crisis care and evidence-based suicide prevention treatments such as DBT, CBT‑SP, CAMS, CALM, and ACT, often paired with medication and ongoing therapy²². Treatment integrates immediate crisis response, evidence-based therapies, and long-term follow-up. Psych Hub helps you locate specialists trained in these approaches.
What not to say to someone who is suicidal
Avoid minimizing their feelings (“Just snap out of it”), using clichés (“Everything happens for a reason”), or promising to keep their feelings private. Instead, listen with compassion and encourage professional help.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Suicide prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/suicide
- Suicide Prevention Resource Center. (2023). Safe and effective messaging. https://sprc.org/messaging
- National Institute of Mental Health. (2022). Suicide risk factors. https://www.nimh.nih.gov
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2023). Veteran suicide data. https://mentalhealth.va.gov
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Suicide by age, sex, race. https://www.cdc.gov/suicide-demographics
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (2023). Means reduction strategies. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Protective factors. https://www.cdc.gov/suicide-protection
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2023). 988 Lifeline. https://988lifeline.org
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2023). Crisis support strategies. https://samhsa.gov
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Talking about suicide. https://www.cdc.gov/suicide-communication
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2023). DBT programs. https://www.samhsa.gov
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2023). CBT‑SP methods. https://www.samhsa.gov
- Evidence-based suicide treatment training. CAMS. (2025, June 30). https://cams-care.com/the-cams-framework/evidence-based-framework/
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (2023). CALM counseling. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu
- American Psychological Association. (2023). ACT therapy. https://www.apa.org
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. (2024). Safety planning. https://afsp.org/safetyplan
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. (2024). Helping someone suicidal. https://afsp.org/support
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. (2024). Postvention support. https://afsp.org/loss
Learn more