S.O.S! Survivors of Suicide

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do people kill themselves?
Most of the time people who kill themselves are very sick with depression or one of the other types of depressive illnesses, which occur when the chemicals in a person's brain get out of balance or become disrupted in some way. Healthy people do not kill themselves. A person who has depression does not think like a typical person who is feeling good. Their illness prevents them from being able to look forward to anything. They have lost the ability to imagine into the future. Many times they don't realize they are suffering from a treatable illness and they feel they can't be helped. Seeking help may not even enter their mind. They do not think of the people around them, family or friends, because of their illness.  They don't see any way out. They feel hopeless and helpless. They don't want to die, but it's the only way they feel their pain will end.

Do people who attempt suicide do it to get sympathy?                                                                 It is a cry for help, which should never be ignored. This is a warning to people that something is terribly wrong. A suicide attempt must always be taken seriously. People who have attempted suicide in the past, may be at risk for trying it again and possibly completing it.

Can a suicidal person mask their depression with happiness?
Yes, they can. But, most of the time a suicidal person will give clues as to how desperate he/she is feeling. They may be subtle clues though, and that's why knowing what to watch for is critical. A person may "hint" that he/she is thinking about suicide. Refer to the signs of suicide page. 

Is it more likely for a person to attempt suicide if he/she has been exposed to it in their family?
This is due to the fact that depression and other related depressive illnesses have a genetic component, and that if they are left untreated (or mistreated) it can result in suicide. 

Why don't people talk about depression and suicide?
The main reason people don't talk about it is because of the stigma. People who suffer from depression are afraid that others will think they are "crazy", which is so not true. They simply may have depression. Society still hasn't accepted depressive illnesses like they've accepted other diseases.

If a person's "mind is made up", can they still be stopped?
Absolutely. People who are contemplating suicide go back and forth, thinking about life and death…..the pain can come in “waves”. They don't want to die, they just want the pain to stop. Once they know they can be helped, that there are treatments available for their illness, that it isn’t their fault and that they are not alone, it gives them hope.

~Most of this information has been paraphrased from http://www.save.org