Suicide: Facts, Risks & Resources: Myths:

1. If a person actually wants to commit suicide, he/she won't talk about it before hand.

Many people who attempt or commit suicide will actually tell people they are considering it ahead of time in a final attempt to seek help and support.

2. Bad events in a person’s life are what lead them to commit suicide.

Suicide is typically caused by serious psychiatric disorders, rather than any specific event.

3. Everyone who commits suicide is depressed.

There are a variety of problems and psychiatric disorders that lead to suicide.

4. Most people won’t attempt suicide more than once.

Many people who have attempt suicide will try it several times.

5. Once a person makes up his/her mind to commit suicide, there is nothing anyone can do to stop them.

Suicide is often preventable; as long as people can find the support and resources they need to help fight the pain.

6. People who commit suicide are weak.

Suicide has nothing to do with strengths and weaknesses, but has everything to do with psychiatric disorders and chemical imbalances in the brain.

7. The risk for suicide is lowered when a person’s emotional state is improved.

The opposite is actually true. Often times when a person has a rapid mood change after an extended period of depression, it means that he/she has made their decision to commit suicide.

8. When people threaten suicide, they are just seeking attention and ignoring these threats will make them stop.

These threats should always be taken extremely seriously because if a person is talking about it, that means they have at least thought about it and are probably telling people because they want help and support.

9. Someone who has never experienced a suicide loss can know what it is like.

While these individuals may never know what it “feels” like to experience this type of trauma, many can still learn to be sensitive to those who have and as a result, can actually be good support systems for survivors of suicide loss.

10. Those who endure a suicide loss are made stronger by it.

This type of loss can be confusing and damaging to survivors, sometimes leading to depression or even suicide. Coping with a suicide loss is exhausting for survivors, and rarely leaves people feeling stronger as a result.

ULifeline. (n.d.) Myths about suicide. Retrieved October 2, 2011, from http://www.ulifeline.org/main/page/57/MythsaboutSuicide

Caruso, Kevin. (n.d.) Suicide myths. Retrieved October 8, 2011, from http://www.suicide.org/suicidemyths.html

X-Ray Technician School. (n.d). 10 Common myths about suicide. Retrieved October 8, 2011, from http://www.x-raytechnicianschools.org/10-common-myths-about-suicide/