Warning Signs Of Suicide Essay

4.Which three warning signs of suicide do you think are most important? Why do you think so?

There are three suicidal warning signs that seem the most important to me. They include, talking about suicide, participating in risky activities, and saying goodbye or leaving suicide notes for loved ones. These three stood out to me because they are the causes and effects of thinking about killing yourself. If someone is considering committing suicide, a common and important sign is if he is talking about it or acting as if he were planning to do it. He would make statements such as, “‘I’m going to kill myself,’ ‘I wish I were dead’ or ‘I wish I hadn’t been born’”(Suicide and Suicidal Thoughts). Also, a witness may see him go to the store to buy a gun, or drugs, to help him take his own life. Participating in self-destructive activities is another important warning sign because it shows the person is not just thinking about suicide, but also acting on it. For example, it could include driving recklessly, doing drugs, or drinking and driving. This is scary and harmful not just to the person being carless, but to the people

around him. The last important warning sign of suicide is if someone is saying goodbye to their loved ones and the world around him. This is an easy sign to see in someone and you should act fast in getting him help. It is important because it shows that the person is seriously considering attempting suicide and he may be planning it soon. These three warnings are the most important signs of suicide because they clearly show the victim’s strategy and plan to kill himself.
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4. List three myths about depression. Why does it serve us to know why these are myths (why did you select those three)?
A myth is an idea or belief that many people think is true but it was proven false. There are many myths about depression that I find interesting, but three stood out to me. First of all, people think that if someone is depressed, he is “crazy” or “sick in the head”. This is not true. Depression is a mental disorder just like any other disorder. According to primary source, “7 Myths of Depression”, “Having a mental disorder does not mean you’re ‘crazy,’ it just means you have a concern that is negatively impacting how you live your life.” This is important for people to know because it shows that being depressed does not necessarily mean there is a major problem with your brain, it just means that you have had a setback in your life that need to work to overcome. If people around the world knew the truth about this myth, they would look at depression much differently and maybe make a bigger effort to help others. Another myth that is misinterpreted is that depression is a disease just like diabetes or any other illness. There are many pieces of evidence to prove this theory wrong. To find out if someone has diabetes, a doctor must draw blood or do a series of tests. To find if someone has depression, you listen to what he has to say and what symptoms he is having. There is no kind of blood test or physical examination to test if someone has depression. Therefore, depression is not proven to be a medical disease. It serves us well to know this is a myth because it could make people feel better to know they do not have a deadly disease that they will need medical treatment for. Lastly, it is a myth that depression is often seen as simple feelings of sadness when it is actually, “overwhelming feelings of sadness and hopelessness, every day, for no reason whatsoever”(7 Myths of Depression). It is not something that can go away overnight. People experience depression for weeks and months before it gets better from seeking professional help. Time alone, willpower, or sleep does not help it go away. It takes support from loved ones and a therapist. These three myths stood out to me because before reading about them, I thought they were true as well as many other people around the world. I chose these myths because I learned that depression does not mean someone is “crazy”, it is not a disease, and it can be hard to overcome.

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8. List three myths about suicide. Why did you select those three?

There are many myths about suicide but three stood out to me. First of all, many people think that suicide cannot be prevented, and it is destined to happen to certain people. The truth is that suicide is preventable and people with depression do not automatically want to die, but they feel it is the only option to put an end to their suffering. Also, some think that people who kill themselves or attempt to kill themselves, are cowards who do it to get attention. However, many people do follow through with it. You can find a way to help them before this happens by being aware and recognizing when people exhibit serious mental disorders. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, more than 90% of people who commit suicide have a form of a mental illness and don’t know what they are doing to harm themselves. Lastly, many people think that cognitive therapy and medication doesn’t work to help treat depression, bipolar illness, or any other mental illness. However, it is proven that these treatments can work. Different people respond to different treatments, and if they find the one that fits them, they can save their own life and decrease their risk of committing suicide. I selected these three myths to write about because they made an impact on me. Everyday I hear in the news about people committing suicide and it breaks my heart. I believe that anyone can seek help and improve their state of mind. People are not shooting themselves or jumping off bridges for attention. If someone is crying out for help, help him. He needs it. This is a serious matter, and I believe it needs to be addressed.
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10. What are the most useful ways you have found to help deal with feeling sad or upset? Support your answer with specific examples.

I use many different methods to help cheer myself up and deal with being sad.

One example is to talk about it. When I am feeling sad, I talk to my best friend and it is useful because I am able to vent and get the weight of the problem off of my shoulders. Also, I write in a journal where I am able to express all of my feelings in words and when I close the book, all of the sad feelings stay in there. This makes me feel better because I feel powerful when I am taking control over my feelings, and I let the sadness go away. Lastly, I get my mind off of being sad by doing activities I enjoy such as, playing soccer and tennis, drawing, reading, or going for a run. These distract my mind, and force me to focus on the activity I am doing, which eventually makes me forget about my problems. All of these ideas help me be happy and put a smile on my

face.

11. In a paragraph, introduce two other organizations a teenager could contact about depression, suicide, or other health problems if friends or family were not available. Include the name and phone number of both organizations.

Two teen depression organizations that I researched made an impact on me. One, called Erika’s Lighthouse, is an organization that has an educational program to promote teenage depression awareness to help prevent it. Depression, “will impact nearly 20% of teens before they reach adulthood”(Erika’s Lighthouse). To help decrease this number, Erika’s Lighthouse has a program called Teen Panel. It is a group of teens that get together to express themselves and talk about depression. This is useful because it helps teens relate to one another and they are able to realize they are not in this alone. The teens who are struggling with depression can call 847-386-6481. Another organization teens can contact for help is Food-4-Thought. By calling 1-800-273-TALK, teenagers can get the opportunity to sit around a dinner table and discuss their depression. Their goal is to, “break down the barriers surrounding the discussion of teenage depression and suicide one conversation at a time”(Food-4-Thought). Many people may personally be affected by depression, whether it is you who is depressed, a family member, or a close friend.