Myths and Facts about Suicide

Myth 1: People who talk about suicide don’t commit it themselves.

People who talk about suicide may be seeking help or reassurance. Many people who think about suicide experience anxiety, depression, and despair, and may feel that there is simply no other way out.

About 80% of people who commit suicide have mentioned suicide in some way, either through their words or behavior. Yes, there are suicides that happen without any warning, but most often, there are warning signs before a suicide occurs.

Therefore, it is very important to take such warning signs seriously, even if you think they are just scare tactics or manipulation. Ask directly: “Are you thinking about suicide?”

Myth 2: It is dangerous to ask directly about suicide because it may encourage the person to commit suicide.

If a person is not thinking about suicide, a direct question will certainly not encourage them to commit suicide. For a person who is already thinking about suicide, a direct and simple question can only help. By asking directly about suicidal thoughts, you give the person an opportunity to talk about things that are very important to them, even if they are very difficult. Often, such a person feels that no one understands them, that they are alone, and that they are afraid to talk about their thoughts. Therefore, an open conversation can only help.

Myth 3: Those who want to commit suicide will do so anyway.

On the contrary, people who intend to commit suicide usually waver between the desire to live and the intention to die.

Suicidologists claim that people commit suicide because they can no longer bear the intense psychological pain. After enduring such pain for a long time, people want to end it and believe that the only way to do so is to commit suicide. They do not want to die; they want to end the pain.

Most people who think about suicide are completely confused, see no other way out, but deep-down hope to be saved.

Timely and appropriate help can reduce this pain and save lives.

Myth 4: Only people with mental disorders commit suicide.

Mental disorders (such as clinical depression) increase the risk of suicide, but most people with mental disorders do not commit suicide. A large proportion of those who commit suicide have no mental health problems. Psychological pain, sadness, and despair are not necessarily signs of mental illness.