Source: DOCTORSHUB NIGERIA

NB: post has been edited and shortened.


#1. Always talking about suicide or wanting to kill oneself: if you know anyone who suddenly has been talking a lot about dying or killing himself/herself or how worthless life is, please be alarmed and try and find out what is really going on. It is human nature to talk about the thoughts that dominate our minds. This is an alarm sign not to ignore at all. Usually, if you take your time to carefully observe the person, you will also be shocked to find that they exhibit one or two of the others signs listed below.


#2. Sudden change of will and the urgent need to try and put things, especially family issues, in order:
This is commonly seen in married men or women with children. In a final attempt to do something right, they try to put their families in order before committing the suicide. So you see them changing their wills to reflect their true position, and inviting family members for peace-making meetings to try unite the family. They are eager to repair broken relationships. While not everyone who changes their will is suicidal, if after noticing this sign you also notice one or two of the other signs on this list, please probe further.


#3, Sudden loss of interest in things the person was previously interested in and passionate about:
This is known as amotivation i.e complete lack of motivation. Surprisingly, 8 out of every 10 suicide attempters display this sign. And it is primarily because of depression. As a matter of fact, clinical depression is the number one cause of suicide worldwide! And really, this is one sign that sets off your alarm so powerfully that you just know something is wrong. The person just loses complete interest in life. They give up. In their minds, they believe there is absolutely no more reason for them to continue existing in this cold, evil and leprous world. And it doesn't matter whether or not they own business empires or are poor or have young children or are whatever else you can think of as reason enough to stop them from suicide. Depression is a terrible thing, I tell you. Spot this sign and you may have enough time to save that suicidal person from himself or herself.


#4. Taking unnecessary and potentially fatal risks:
The thing with suicidal people is that they always, at least most of them, follow a pattern of behaviour that can easily be read and decoded. And usually, this pattern of behaviour is alien to how they have been known to behave. If a person who is usually careful and obeys traffic lights when driving suddenly starts zooming pass traffic lights (even when the light has turned red) or he/she does not mind driving over a treacherous ditch or pothole, this may be a pointer. And this risk taking behaviour is exhibited in virtually everything they do- be it drugs (they can intentionally take an overdose of a drug), walking across the highway without minding on-moving vehicles, or standing on the railway tracks even when a train is heading their way, etc.


#5. Sudden withdrawal from people:
This is different from being an introvert. Introversion is a personality type, so don't mistake it for the social withdrawal caused by depression. So the scenario is like this- you see someone who is very sociable and is deeply involved in church meetings, school associations, clubs or unions. And all of a sudden, the person just zones off. No more outings. No more meetings. The person keeps to himself, mostly in a lonely place where they cannot be seen or reached. And with the social withdrawal, you will also notice that the person is mostly unkempt, sad and sluggish. Don't think twice before alerting family members or people who can help when you know such a person.


NB: Fact is, not everyone who exhibit these signs end up killing themselves. Some people miraculously get over the depression or challenge. And again, even though women attempt suicide more than men, they somehow don't always do it right- which I think is a good. Men are more successful at committing suicide and they are very good at hiding the suicide signs as well. So if you spot these signs in anyone, but especially a man, don't think twice before drawing the attention of family members or health groups, as in most cases, they would have almost planned the suicide before you notice the signs.

Also read and share, "8 EARLY SIGNS OF DEPRESSION", here:http://doctorshub.com.ng/2017/01/15/8-early-signs-of-depression/.


DOCTORSHUB NG DEPRESSION/SUICIDE HOTLINES:
07053873751, 08170320362, 07081079482, 08067380288, 08038639953, 08189361238.


Thanks for reading!




http://doctorshub.com.ng/2017/03/23/how-to-spot-a-suicidal-person-5-signs-not-to-ignore/