By Jessica Kobernik
Program Manager Suicide Prevention Program at South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Office of Mental Health

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, a time for increasing public awareness, learning about resources and spreading hope about suicide prevention. It is also a time to honor those we have lost to suicide. Suicide is a public health issue, and it is important to support one another and reduce the stigma around talking about it. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control, South Carolina lost 818 people to suicide in 2023, which is the third leading cause of death for 15-25-year-olds. Because any suicide death is one death too many, communities must support one another in prevention efforts, lean on one another and help connect people who are at risk of suicide to care.

Anyone can be a champion for suicide prevention by recognizing the warning signs and knowing what support resources are available.

Understand Warning Signs

One of the first steps a person can take to help prevent suicide is understanding the risk factors and warning signs. This can appear differently in youth and young adults than in other individuals. While there is no single cause of suicide, and each person’s experiences are unique, the warning signs outlined below are a great place to start when checking in on loved ones. According to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, some warning signs in youth and young adults are:

• Talking about or making plans for suicide
• Feeling hopeless about the future
• Showing emotional pain or distress
• Changes in behavior
  • Withdrawal from social connections
  • Change in sleep pattern
  • Anger or hostility that is out of character
  • Increase in irritability

Change is an important warning sign of suicide. A young person who used to be involved in school and extracurricular activities but who now comes home and isolates from friends and trusted adults may be at risk of suicide. Other changes may occur in the way they talk with parents or guardians, including increased anger. Sudden changes in appearance or hygiene, as if they have stopped taking care of themselves, could be a sign that they are feeling hopeless about the future.  

Certain circumstances may also increase the risk of suicide, like a recent move, breakup, bullying, loss, etc. When youth are going through tough situations, it is important to have open conversations with them about how they are doing. 

Next Steps to Take

If you are worried about a family member, loved one, student, neighbor or classmate, it is okay to ask them directly if they are having thoughts of suicide. Asking a person directly will not make them want to die by suicide. Below are some steps you can take if you are worried about a loved one: 

• Talk with them about how they are doing
• Ask directly about suicide
• Listen to them
• Do not leave them alone
• Reduce access to lethal means
• Help connect them to care

If someone shares that they are having thoughts of suicide, it is important to quickly reduce access to any lethal means they could use to kill or harm themselves. This can mean locking away medicines, sharp objects and firearms, or putting them in places the person cannot find. If possible, try to remove all lethal means from the home. 

Listening is another important step that is often overlooked. Learning that someone is having thoughts of suicide can understandably cause panic. Many people go into problem-solving mode to fix the situations that brought their loved one to this point, especially when an adult is worried about a young person in their care. However, when someone is in crisis, they are not open to logical solutions, and what they need is someone to listen.

Connect to Care

As a caregiver, family member or friend, it is not your responsibility to provide treatment for the person in crisis, but you can connect them to mental health treatment and care. It is important to know who you can call if someone you know is contemplating suicide.

Below are some resources for anyone in South Carolina:

• 988, Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. It’s available 24/7/365 and nationwide. It accepts calls, texts and chats.
• South Carolina Mobile Crisis, 833-364-2274. It’s available 24/7/365 statewide.
• South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Office of Mental Health. Click here to find your local mental health center.

988 and Mobile Crisis are available 24/7/365 and accept third-party calls. Any time you are worried about someone, you can call 988 or Mobile Crisis for help navigating next steps and connecting you to resources. The power of understanding, listening and connecting can go far to help save the life of someone who may be at risk.