Sometimes it is very difficult to tell if someone is feeling suicidal or is likely to self-harm. Questions to help you recognise when someone may be feeling suicidal:

• Have they attempted suicide before?
• Do they make jokes about death or suicide?
• Do they express thoughts about death through stories, drawings or songs?
• Have they been giving things away, saying goodbye to family and friends?
• Have they been drinking or taking drugs more than usual?
• Have they stopped laughing about things?
• Do they talk about feeling hopeless, helpless or worthless?
• Have they lost interest in the things they used to enjoy?
• Are they acting differently?

Some warning signs that may indicate someone is feeling suicidal include:

• severe emotional distress
• depression
• careless or risk-taking behaviour (eg increased alcohol and/or other drug use)
• saying things like ‘I want to sleep and never wake up’
• unclear thinking (eg not being able to see a solution to a problem)
• strong feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
• self-harming behaviour (eg burns, cuts)
• a sense of urgency not appropriate to the situation
• not being able to see the ‘big picture’
• inability to manage simple tasks
• social isolation
• strong feelings of grief and guilt.