WARNING SIGNS

• Abrupt changes in personality
• Giving away possessions
• Previous suicide attempt
• Use of drugs and/or alcohol
• Change in eating pattern - significant weight change
• Change in sleeping pattern - insomnia/oversleeping
• Unwillingness or inability to communicate
• Depression
• Extreme or extended boredom
• Accident prone (carelessness)
• Unusual sadness, discouragement and loneliness.
• Talk of wanting to die
• Neglect of academic work and/or personal appearance
• Family disruptions - divorce, trauma, losing loved one.
• Running away from home or truancy from school.
• Rebelliousness - reckless behavior.
• Withdrawal from people/activities they love.
• Confusion - Inability to concentrate
• Chronic Pain, Panic or Anxiety
• Perfectionism
• Restlessness

RISK FACTORS

• Problems with school or the law
  
• Breakup of a romance
  
• Unexpected pregnancy
  
• A stressful family life. (having parents
  who are depressed or are substance
  abusers, or a family history of suicide
  
• Loss of security…fear of authority, peers,
  group or gang members
  
• Stress due to new situations; college
  or relocating to a new community
  
• Failing in school or failing to pass
  an important test
  
• A serious illness or injury to oneself
  
• Seriously injuring another person or
  causing another person’s death
  (example: automobile accident)
  
• Major loss…of a loved one,
  a home, divorce in the family,
  a trauma, a relationship