# What You Need To Know About Suicide

- Link: https://stayathomemum.com.au/wellbeing/mind-mental-health/what-you-need-to-know-about-suicide/
- Published: 2017-03-09T18:00:15+11:00
- Author: Clare Whitfield

## _In Australia, and around the world, suicide is a really big issue. In fact, suicide is the leading cause of death for men and women between 15 and 44._

During an average year, around 2,500 people in Australia die by suicide. That’s 
seven people every day.

In each of these cases, the death of one person has a difficult ripple effect, which
affects the families, friends, workmates and community of that individual.

This article hopes to inform a little about how suicide can look from the outside,
and what the friends and loved ones of someone who is having suicidal thoughts can
do to help that person move through this stage in their life.

## **Warning Signs**

Even though every person is different, and may not show the same signs when considering
suicide, many people do give some signs or clues to those around them. However, 
these can be incredibly subtle, which explains how they are often missed. The first
step in suicide prevention is recognising these warning signs, and taking them seriously.

Some suicide warning signs include:

 * A sense of hopelessness, particularly about the future
 * Feeling alone and isolated
 * Being aggressive or irritable
 * Having access to lethal means (i.e. medication or weapons)
 * Negative self view
 * Marked changes in mood and behaviour
 * Regularly talking about their own death
 * Self-harming behaviours (i.e. cutting)
 * Being unusually risky, as though they aren’t afraid to die
 * Making arrangements for their funeral
 * Giving away possessions that are expensive or important
 * Abusing substances
 * Considering themselves a burden to others
 * Making suicide threats

## **What You Should Do**

If someone close to you is exhibiting any of these signs, there are things you can
do. Talking to someone about their suicidal thoughts can be really difficult, but
if you aren’t sure if they’re serious or not, you should just ask.

## **1. Starting A Conversation**

If you are concerned, start a conversation with the person, using some of the tips
below:

> _“You haven’t been yourself lately, and I’m worried about you”_
> _“I’ve noticed that you’ve been doing blank (suicide warning sign), and I’m wondering
> how everything is going with you.”_

[⌊What you need to know about suicide | stay at home mum⌉⌊What you need to know 
about suicide | stay at home mum⌉[

Via forbes

## **2. Establishing Connection**

Let them know that you’re there and happy to help with these lines:

 * “What can I do to help you?”
 * “I’d like to help you, is there anything I can do?”
 * “I want to help you, and I’m here anytime you want to talk.”[⌊What you need to know about suicide | stay at home mum⌉](https://i0.wp.com/stayathomemum.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/giphy-22.gif?ssl=1)

## **3. Suicidal Confirmation**

These questions can be used to figure out if the person you’re talking to might 
be suicidal. They show the person has an intention, plan, means and a timeframe:

 * “Do you intend to take your life?”
 * “Do you have a plan for taking your life?”
 * “Do you have the means to follow through with that plan?”
 * “Do you have a timeframe for your plan?”

## Next Page: Myths About Suicide

![author avatar](https://i0.wp.com/stayathomemum.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/
12/clare_whitfield_profile.webp?quality=80&ssl=1)

 Clare Whitfield Chief Editor

 Clare Whitfield is the Editor of Stay at Home Mum and a recognised voice in practical
home management for Australian families. Based in the northern suburbs of Sydney,
she balances editorial leadership with life as a stay at home mum to two school 
age children. Her background in home economics and more than a decade of experience
in recipe development, family budgeting, and household systems inform her work.

 [See Full Bio](https://stayathomemum.com.au/author/clare_whitfield/) [  ](https://stayathomemum.com.au/author/clare_whitfield/)