Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States.1 This public health issue has a far-reaching impact on Spokane County communities. Suicide prevention efforts can save lives and improve well-being in the community by using evidence-based strategies to increase protective factors and decrease risk factors.
If you are having thoughts of suicide, in distress or a crisis, wanting to support someone impacted by suicide, or experiencing grief or bereavement after a death by suicide, you are not alone. Help is available.
The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress as well as information and resources to help you or someone else prevent a suicide or crisis situation from happening. 988 is for everyone, regardless of who you are, where you live, or what you’re going through.
For free, personalized, confidential support, call 988, text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org/chat to chat one-on-one with a trained, nonjudgemental counselor who will listen and help.
When discussing suicide, you might encounter a variety of different terms. The words and terms used to discuss suicide have an impact.2-4 Knowing and using appropriate and accurate terms can decrease stigma and improve outcomes for people impacted by suicide.2-4
Suicide
Suicide occurs when someone injures themselves with the intent to die and the injury results in death.1 When referring to these deaths, the term “died by suicide” should be used instead of “committed suicide.”2,3 Deaths by suicide should not be referred to as “successful.”2,3
Suicide Attempt
When someone harms themselves with the intent to die and the action does not result in death, this is called a suicide attempt.1 The terms “unsuccessful suicide attempt” or “failed suicide attempt” should not be used to refer to suicide attempts.2,3
Suicidality
Suicidality is a broad term that refers to suicidal ideation, meaning thoughts of suicide, and suicidal intent, meaning plans to injure oneself with the intent to die.5
Suicide is a lethal form of self-harm, but not all self-harm is connected to suicidality.1,6
Nonsuicidal Self-Injury
When an individual harms themselves without the intention to die, this is called nonsuicidal self-injury.6 Nonsuicidal self-injury should be discussed separately from self-harm connected to suicidality, including suicide attempts and deaths by suicide.6
Deaths by suicide, suicide attempts, and suicidality are related. For every death by suicide, there are many more suicide attempts, and even more people who experience suicidality.1 Comprehensive understanding of suicide risk factors, protective factors, and warning signs can support suicide prevention. Many factors impact risk of suicide, and suicide is rarely caused by a single event or circumstance.7
The words we choose when we talk about suicide are important. Many words traditionally used to talk about suicide in the English language carry negative connotations that can contribute to stigma. For example, the phrase “committed suicide” can imply that suicide is a crime or a religious sin.
Instead, mental health advocates recommend and use empathetic language that treats suicide deaths like deaths from any other condition or illness. Using the phrase “died by suicide” rather than “committed suicide” communicates compassion for the individual first and recognizes their manner of death.
Risk factors are experiences, situations, or circumstances that can increase the possibility that a person will have thoughts of suicide, attempt suicide, or die by suicide.7,8
Protective factors are experiences, situations, or circumstances that can decrease the possibility that a person will have thoughts of suicide, attempt suicide, or die by suicide.7
Warning signs are behaviors and characteristics that can help identify if someone is at risk for suicide.7,8 These include:
When someone is exhibiting these warning signs, it is safest for them to not be alone; to reduce access to lethal means including firearms, alcohol, drugs, and sharp objects; and to seek professional help.4
When you notice warning signs in yourself or someone else, you can seek help to prevent suicide.
For free, personalized, confidential support now, call 988, text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org/chat to chat one-on-one with a trained, nonjudgemental counselor who will listen and help.
Anyone can be at risk for suicide.10 Some populations have higher rates of suicide and are at greater risk for suicide than the general U.S. population because of the conditions they live in.10 This includes veterans, people who live in rural areas, LGBTQ+ people, middle-aged adults, people of color, and tribal populations.10
Suicide is not inevitable, no matter who a person is or what they are going through.8
From 2017 to 2021, people in Spokane County died by suicide at a similar or higher rate than Washington state overall.
Learn more about how suicide impacts Spokane County
Suicide is a public health issue that affects all people in Spokane County. Everyone can take action using evidence-based prevention strategies. When both individuals and organizations take action using different strategies based on their opportunities, capabilities and strengths, the community uses a comprehensive approach to prevent suicide, save lives, and improve well-being.
Designing prevention strategies to support populations more at-risk for suicide can decrease health disparities and benefit the entire community. Policy makers and organizations can create a comprehensive approach to prevent suicide by including the following strategies. 4,11
Help others in emotional pain. The following tips can help you support someone who may be thinking about suicide. 12
“Are you thinking about killing yourself?”
Reduce access to lethal means.
Listen and acknowledge their feelings.
Call or text 988 or other support.
Follow up and stay in touch after a crisis.
If you are experiencing crisis or have been having thoughts of suicide, there are steps you can take to keep yourself safe. 13
Hope and recovery are real and possible. Find stories of hope and recovery from people with lived experience related to suicide at Stories of Hope and Recovery - 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988lifeline.org).
Firearms are the leading method used in deaths by suicide in Spokane County. When curious kids find them, firearms have also caused death and unintentional injury in Spokane County.
Using a locking device for your firearms can help prevent suicide as well as unintentional injury and death. Using locking devices can also prevent firearm theft. Even if you do not have children or people in emotional distress in your home, safe firearm storage supports community safety.
Learn more about firearm locking devices and choose the best option for you:
Free and confidential support, 24 hours a day, for people in distress, and much more
Working to reduce suicide attempts and rates in Spokane County
