Resource Finder
Search Results Myths about Suicide
- View
-
- Topic
- Myths
- Type
- Information Sheet
- Publisher
- SPINZ
True or False?
People who talk about killing themselves rarely complete suicide.False - Anyone who talks about suicide needs to be taken seriously. Most people who complete suicide give clues or warning signs of their intent. These may be spoken or they may be actions.
A suicidal person clearly wants to die.
False - Many suicidal people don't want to die, they want to end the emotional and/or physical pain they are experiencing. Most people will be ambivalent - a part of them wanting to live and a part of them wanting to die.
If you promise to keep someone's suicidal plan a secret you should always keep that promise.
False - Suicide is not a secret you can keep. Best practice tells us that seeking help from a health professional is the safest response. It's better to have an angry friend/client than a dead one.
Suicidal feelings are permanent
False - Suicidal feelings are a temporary response to an overwhelming situation. They can be particularly transient for young people, they need to know suicidal feelings will pass and that help is available.
Asking or talking about suicide with a suicidal person increases the risk of suicide.
False - There are safe ways and unsafe ways to talk about suicide. Talking about suicide shows you are concerned about a person and willing to listen. Allowing a person to speak about suicide, in a safe environment, will be likely to reduce the risk of suicide rather than give them the idea to try it.
Most suicidal people never seek or ask for help with their problems.
False - There is evidence that people considering suicide often tell their friends and family about their thoughts and plans, and sometimes seek help from a GP.
There is a typical person who completes suicide
False - Although research has identified clear warning signs and risk factors associated with suicide and attempted suicide, these do not have to be present and there is no typical person who is likely to complete suicide. Research has shown that many people who have completed suicide have symptoms of depression.
People who have previously attempted suicide have eliminated the idea from their system and are therefore less likely to attempt it again.
False - There is a proven link between past suicide attempts and subsequent completion of suicide.
Sudden improvement following a suicidal crisis means the risk is over.
False - Though the person may appear to be "happier", the risk of suicide may actually be higher. The apparent lifting of feelings may mean the person has made a firm decision to suicide and feels better because of this.
Most suicides occur with little or no warning.
False - It is likely that some suicides are impulsive reactions to a loss or a humiliation. But even in these cases there has almost always been a long history of difficulties.
