able Significant loss or gain in appetite Difficulty falling asleep or wanting to sleep all day Fatigue or loss of energy Feelings of worthlessness or guilt Withdrawal from family and friends Neglect of personal appearance or hygiene Sadness, irritability, or indifference Having trouble concentrating Extreme anxiety or panic Drug or alcohol use or abuse Aggressive, destructive, or defiant behavior Poor school performance Hallucinations or unusual beliefs Tragically, many of these signs go unrecognized. And while suffering from one of these symptoms certainly does not necessarily mean that one is suicidal, its always best to communicate openly with a loved one who has one or more of these behaviors, especially if they are unusual for that person. There are also some more obvious signs of the potential for committing suicide. Putting ones affairs in order, such as giving or throwing away favorite belongings, is a strong clue. And it cant be stressed more strongly that any talk of death or suicide should be taken seriously and paid close attention to. It is a sad fact that while many of those who commit suicide talked about it beforehand, only 33 percent to 50 percent were identified by their doctors as having a mental illness at the time of their death and only 15 percent of suicide victims were in treatment at the time of their death. Any history of previous suicide attempts is also reason for concern and watchfulness. Approximately one-third of teens who die by suicide have made a previous suicide attempt. It should be noted as well that while...
