The Saturday before Thanksgiving is designated as International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day (also known as Survivor’s Day) each year. It is estimated that 49,000 Americans and 700,000 people worldwide end their own lives each year, and this day is set aside to remember them, bring awareness to suicide loss, and offer support to the friends, family, classmates, colleagues, and others they have left behind. This year, Survivor’s Day will occur on November 23. At Cottonwood, in Tucson, Arizona, we treat a variety of mental health conditions that can result in suicidal thoughts.
What is Survivor’s Day?
Survivor’s Day is intended to be a day of remembrance, support, and healing for those who have lost someone to suicide. The hundreds of events that happen on this day also increase awareness among the broader community of what suicidal ideation looks like and how to help people who are struggling. Events, which vary from one location to the next, often include:
- Memorial services
- Support groups for survivors
- Conversations intended to increase understanding and prevent deaths from suicide
The local Survivor’s Day events in Tucson require pre-registration and may only be open to survivors of loss. Virtual events are also available.
Why Suicide Loss Survivors Need Support
The grief of losing a loved one to suicide is utterly devastating, but due to the stigma around mental illness and suicide, survivors are often left isolated and alone with:
- Grief
- Guilt
- Loneliness
- Detachment
- Sleep disturbances
- Depression
More social support for a survivor of suicide loss has been linked to:
- Less depressed mood
- Better ability to manage their grief
- Increased personal growth
Factors That Increase the Risk of Suicide
By understanding what places a person at risk for suicidal thoughts and attempts, you may be able to save a life. Some of the things that increase the likelihood that a person will consider taking their life include:
- Past personal or family history of suicide or attempts
- Mental health and substance use disorders
- Serious medical conditions and/or chronic pain
- History of experiencing violence, abuse, or trauma
- Having experienced discrimination (usually due to race, immigration status, LGBTQ+ identity, etc.)
- Recent life stressors (money troubles, relationship issues, job loss, death of a loved one, or other painful events)
Signs of Suicidal Ideation
Often, people who have lost someone to suicide will say that there were no warning signs, and that might be true. Unfortunately, many signs go unrecognized by loved ones until it is too late. Some indications that a person could be considering suicide include:
- Seeming empty, hopeless, agitated, or filled with shame
- Using alcohol or drugs more
- Avoiding friends and family
- Changes in diet and sleep
- Gathering information about how to kill themselves
- Acquiring the tools they would use to end their lives (firearm, ammunition, pills, rope, etc.)
- Saying goodbye as though they will never see people again and giving away cherished possessions
Suicide in Children and Teens
People often assume that children and teenagers don’t have suicidal thoughts, but this is not true. Young people often consider suicide, and, due to how impulsive they can be, their risk of acting on thoughts of killing themselves can be especially high. Triggers for suicidal ideation among adolescents and children can include:
- Conflict with friends and family
- Bullying
- Suicide death of someone they know
- Mental illness
- Trauma
- Negative response to their sexual orientation or gender identity
- Feeling like no one cares about them or their problems
How You Can Help
If you have reason to believe someone might be struggling with suicidal thoughts, it is important to take immediate action to help them stay safe. You can do this by:
- Asking if they have had thoughts of killing themselves and if they plan to act on those thoughts.
- Reducing their access to items they could use to end their life.
- Connecting them to their mental health provider or the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Calling or texting 988 will connect them to a trained crisis counselor.
- Staying with them and/or helping them talk to other friends and family so that they are not left alone during their crisis.
- Calling 911 or taking them to the nearest emergency room, if you do not feel confident that they can be kept safe.
At Cottonwood, our staff provides trauma-informed, whole-person care that is personalized to meet the needs of each patient we serve. This includes patients who are experiencing suicidal thoughts. We are often able to include their support systems in their treatment to ensure their loved ones have the skills to help them stay safe.
