Suicide Related Definitions
Suicide is death caused by injuring oneself with the intent to die.
Suicide attempt is when one harms oneself with the intent to end his life, but does not die as a result of their actions.
Suicidal ideation or more commonly known as suicidal thoughts, is when one is thinking about or considering suicide. It is then further classified depending on if one has a plan or not.
Parasuicide is commonly known as self-harm. It includes actions where one seeks to physically damage the self, without death.
Local Statistics
80% of completed suicides between 1995 and 2018 were attributed to men.
Warning Signs of Suicide
Past suicide attempts
Threatening to hurt or kill themselves
Looking for ways to kill themselves
Talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide
Negative moods, including rage, anger, anxiety, agitation
Sudden changes between extreme positive and negative moods
Acting recklessly or engaging in risky activities
No reason for living, no sense of purpose in life
Increasing alcohol or drug
Withdrawing from friends, family or society
Inability to sleep or sleeping all the time
What to do if you think someone might attempt suicide?
Ask them directly if they are considering suicide through questions such as: “Are you having thoughts of suicide?” or “Are you thinking about killing yourself?”.
Ideally do so in an environment which is comfortable to individual and which is free from distractions
Be patient and calm while the suicidal person is talking about his feelings
Listen to the suicidal person without expressing judgment, accepting what they are saying without agreeing or disagreeing with their behaviour or point of view
Ask open-ended questions to find out more about the suicidal thoughts and feelings
Call the 179 national support line for further guidance
Call 112 if there any danger, and treat it as an emergency
Written by: Miguel Sammut & Malcolm Camilleri