This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
The topic of suicide is a difficult one to discuss no matter with whom or what time of year the chat might take place.
As mental well-being is especially recognized in May, during Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s important to know the warning signs that someone you love may be having suicidal thoughts to potentially help save a life.
In interviews with Fox News Digital, Amy Morin, a Florida-based licensed psychotherapist, as well as M. David Rudd, University of Memphis distinguished professor of psychology, shared key insights about potential suicide warning signs.
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Atlanta-based Lorenzo Lewis, a mental health advocate and speaker, also weighed in.
Morin said it’s important to start having conversations on the very difficult topic, especially when red flags often go unrecognized.
“As a society, it’s something we should be discussing because we know that suicide rates are really high,” said Morin, who’s also editor-in-chief of Verywell Mind.
“And talking about it with people doesn’t increase the chances that they’ll actually follow through with suicide but, instead, it might prevent some unnecessary deaths,” Morin said.
‘Not your fault’
In the unfortunate and tragic instance in which someone does go through with suicide, Morin sought to remind the person’s loved ones that they are not responsible.
“It’s definitely not your fault that somebody was in pain, and they found that this was the way to deal with their pain,” she said.
Caretakers need to get help, too, by seeking therapy or working on other ways to handle stress.
“If you didn’t see the signs, it’s definitely not your fault,” she added.
It’s also important for caretakers to get themselves help, too, by seeking out therapy or working on other ways to handle…
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