The Lifeworks Group, Inc.

By: Megan Muñoz IMH Some find it difficult to understand the struggle many have with suicidal thoughts. Part of this struggle has to do with how we sometimes categorize things we don’t understand. Suicidal thoughts and suicide are often thought of in black and white terms. For example: either someone is terribly depressed and suicidal or the thought has never entered their mind. But suicide and suicidal thoughts have a much longer and broader spectrum than we often realize. There is a long and difficult road of gray hues that fill in the gap between the starting point of never having had a suicidal thought and the end point where the act of suicide takes place. We are not born with suicidal thoughts. However, we are born with the capacity to become overwhelmed by stress, adversity and pain that can threaten our ability to cope and lead towards thoughts of suicide as a solution. No one is completely exempt from the possibility of developing suicidal thoughts, however, ...

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (lhttps://afsp.org/about-suicide/risk-factors-and-warning-signs/) lists three areas that elevate the risk of suicide: HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT, HISTORY. Health factors Mental health conditions Substance abuse disorders Alcohol abuse disorders Serious or chronic health conditions Chronic pain Limited access to healthcare Sleeping difficulties Environmental factors Stressful life events including death, divorce, or separation or job loss Prolonged stress factors including harassment, bullying, relationship problems Financial or school difficulties Access to lethal means including firearms and drugs Exposure to suicide in the media or community Historical factors Previous suicide attempts Family history of suicide attempts History of self-harm Recent hospitalization Cultural beliefs that support suicide The Foundation indicates warn suicide may be imminent in these three areas: TALK, BEHAVIO...