If you are worried that someone you care about may be thinking about suicide, it can be difficult to know whether you are overreacting, what questions to ask, or what to do next. Learning the warning signs of suicide can help you respond with greater clarity.
There is no single behavior that proves someone is thinking about suicide. What matters is noticing concerning patterns especially behavior that is new, becoming more intense, noticeably different from the person’s usual behavior, or occurring after a painful event, loss, or major life change. Both the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) emphasize the importance of paying attention to new or increasing warning signs.
Knowing what to notice is only one part of suicide prevention. It is also important to know how to ask about suicide directly, how to listen, and when to involve crisis or emergency support.
Need help now?
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis in the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If there is an immediate life-threatening situation, call 911.
What Are the Warning Signs of Suicide?
Suicide warning signs are not a diagnostic checklist. A friend, partner, family member, coworker, or caregiver does not need to determine whether someone meets a particular clinical threshold before asking how they are doing.
Instead, look for meaningful changes in what a person says, how they behave, and how they appear to be feeling.
The 988 Lifeline and NIMH identify warning signs that can include talking about wanting to die, severe hopelessness, feeling trapped or like a burden, withdrawing from others, sleep changes, increased alcohol or drug use, agitation, reckless behavior, rage, and extreme mood changes.
Things a Person May Say
Take statements about death, suicide, hopelessness, or unbearable pain seriously.
Concerning statements may include:
- Talking about wanting to die or not wanting to be alive.
- Saying there is no reason to live.
- Expressing intense hopelessness.
- Saying they feel trapped or cannot see a way through their situation.
- Describing themselves as a burden to other people.
- Talking about unbearable emotional or physical pain.
- Frequently talking about death or saying goodbye in an unusual or concerning way.
Someone may communicate distress indirectly rather than explicitly saying, “I am thinking about suicide.” Context matters. A sudden increase in hopeless or death-related statements warrants attention even when the person has not directly described suicidal thoughts.
Changes in Behavior
Behavioral changes may sometimes be easier for friends and family to notice than internal emotional distress.
Possible warning signs include:
- Pulling away from friends, relatives, or activities.
- Spending significantly more time alone.
- Major changes in sleep.
- Using alcohol or drugs more often.
- Acting unusually anxious or agitated.
- Engaging in reckless or significantly riskier behavior.
- Making concerning preparations for death or attempting to obtain access to potentially lethal means.
- Giving away meaningful belongings or unexpectedly putting personal affairs in order.
NIMH advises seeking help promptly when concerning behavior is new or has recently increased.
Changes in Mood
Mood-related warning signs can include severe hopelessness, intense anxiety, rage, emotional withdrawal, agitation, or extreme shifts in mood.
A sudden change from severe distress to appearing unusually calm or happy should not automatically be interpreted as evidence that the risk has passed. NIMH includes an abrupt shift from appearing very sad to very calm or happy among serious warning signs that may warrant attention.
At the same time, no individual mood change proves that someone is considering suicide. The safest approach is to pay attention to the full picture and ask directly when you are concerned.
Look for Changes, Not Just a Checklist
A behavior may deserve particular attention when it is:
- New.
- Becoming more frequent or intense.
- Markedly different from the person’s normal behavior.
- Connected with a painful event, loss, breakup, trauma, health concern, financial problem, relapse, or other significant stressor.
You do not have to diagnose someone’s level of suicide risk yourself. Your role can be much simpler: notice, ask, listen, and help the person connect with appropriate support.
What People Often Get Wrong About Suicide Warning Signs
One common misconception is that someone must openly say, “I want to die,” before a friend or family member should become concerned. In reality, warning signs may appear in speech, mood, behavior, substance use, sleep, social withdrawal, or combinations of these changes.
Another misconception is that mentioning suicide will somehow encourage it. Evidence summarized by NIMH does not support that fear. Asking directly about suicide does not increase suicidal thoughts or suicidal behavior.
It is also a mistake to assume that every warning sign means a suicide attempt is imminent. Warning signs should be taken seriously, but they are not a prediction tool. Friends and relatives should not feel responsible for performing a clinical risk assessment themselves.
The goal is not to determine with certainty what will happen. It is to recognize when a conversation and additional support are appropriate.
What Should You Say if You’re Worried Someone Is Thinking About Suicide?
Many people hesitate because they are afraid of using the wrong words. A supportive conversation does not need to be perfect. Being direct, calm, and willing to listen matters more than finding an ideal script.
Ask Directly About Suicide
If you are concerned, it is appropriate to ask:
“Are you thinking about suicide?”
NIMH specifically recommends asking directly and reports that studies have found that asking about suicide does not increase suicidal thoughts or suicidal behavior.
Direct language can also make it easier for someone to answer honestly.
Avoid leading questions such as “You’re not going to do anything stupid, are you?” or “You’re okay, right?” These phrases may communicate that there is a preferred answer or that the person will be judged if they tell you how they really feel.
You can also say:
- “I’ve noticed you’ve been having a difficult time, and I’m concerned about you.”
- “I’ve heard you say that things feel hopeless. Are you thinking about suicide?”
- “I want to ask you directly because I care about your safety.”
Knowing how to ask someone if they are suicidal does not require clinical training. It requires a willingness to take the answer seriously.
Listen Without Judging or Trying to Fix Everything
If the person begins talking, focus on listening.
Helpful responses may include:
- “I’m glad you told me.”
- “I’m here with you.”
- “I want to understand what you’re going through.”
- “We can find support together.”
- “You don’t have to handle this by yourself.”
You do not need to immediately solve every problem that contributed to the person’s distress.
NIMH identifies listening without judgment as a key part of helping someone experiencing suicidal thoughts, while the 988 Lifeline recommends being direct, accepting the person’s feelings, remaining nonjudgmental, and offering support.
What Not to Say
| Avoid | Try Instead | Why |
| “Other people have it worse.” | “It sounds like you’re hurting a lot.” | Comparing suffering can make someone feel dismissed. |
| “You have so much to live for.” | “I care about you, and I want to stay with you while we find support.” | Reassurance may feel disconnected from what the person is experiencing. |
| “You wouldn’t really do that.” | “Are you thinking about suicide?” | Direct questions create more room for an honest answer. |
| “Think about what this would do to your family.” | “I’m concerned about your safety. We can get help together.” | Guilt can make an already painful situation harder to discuss. |
| Arguing or lecturing | Listen and ask calm questions. | The goal is connection, not winning an argument. |
| Reacting with shock | Remain steady and attentive. | A strong reaction may make the person stop sharing. |
| Promising secrecy | Explain that you may need to involve additional support to keep them safe. | Serious safety concerns should not be handled alone. |
The 988 Lifeline specifically advises against judgment, lecturing, acting shocked, challenging the person, offering glib reassurance, or agreeing to keep suicidal plans secret.
What Should You Do After Someone Tells You They’re Thinking About Suicide?
NIMH recommends a five-step suicide-prevention framework: Ask, Be There, Help Keep Them Safe, Help Them Connect, and Follow Up.
Stay With Them and Take It Seriously
Statements about suicide should not be dismissed as dramatic, manipulative, or attention-seeking.
If someone tells you they intend to kill themselves, NIMH advises not leaving them alone and not promising to keep their suicidal thoughts secret. Bring in appropriate support, such as a trusted family member, responsible adult, crisis counselor, mental health professional, or emergency responder depending on the level of danger.
You are not expected to manage a serious suicide crisis by yourself.
Help Keep Them Safe
Ask whether the person feels in immediate danger.
At a high level, helping keep someone safe may involve creating distance between the person and objects or environments that could make an impulsive act more dangerous and obtaining professional crisis guidance.
Avoid trying to conduct your own detailed clinical assessment or manage a high-risk situation without help. A trained 988 crisis counselor can help you think through appropriate next steps.
If the situation is immediately life-threatening, call 911.
Help Them Connect
One practical option is to call or text 988 together.
You might sit beside the person while they make the call or send the text. You can also help them contact a trusted family member, friend, clinician, or another person who can remain involved.
Importantly, you can contact 988 because you are worried about someone else. SAMHSA and the 988 Lifeline both state that family members, friends, caregivers, and advocates can reach out for guidance about another person.
After immediate safety concerns have been addressed, help the person connect with appropriate ongoing mental health or behavioral health care.
Follow Up
Continue checking in after the immediate crisis.
Depending on the situation, that might mean checking in later that day, the following day, or after the person receives crisis or hospital care.
Do not assume that one conversation resolves the problems underlying suicidal thoughts. NIMH notes that supportive ongoing contact following a crisis or discharge from care can play an important role in suicide prevention.
Need support now? Call or text 988. You can reach out for yourself or because you are concerned about someone else.
What Is the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline?
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline connects people across the United States and its territories with trained crisis counselors.
People can call or text 988 for suicidal thoughts, mental health concerns, emotional distress, substance-use concerns, or simply because they need someone to talk with. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
You do not have to wait until a situation becomes catastrophic before contacting 988.
You can reach out:
- When you are experiencing suicidal thoughts.
- When emotional distress feels difficult to manage.
- When you are worried about another person.
- When you are uncertain what to do next.
- When mental health or substance-use concerns are contributing to distress.
SAMHSA’s 2026 988 Day messaging specifically emphasizes that people do not need to believe their reason is “big enough” or wait until they are in an acute crisis before reaching out.
Call or text 988 if you’re unsure what to do. You do not have to figure out the situation alone.
September 2026 Suicide Prevention Dates to Know
September is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Month, creating an opportunity to learn warning signs, talk openly about mental health, share crisis resources, and strengthen community awareness. AFSP lists National Suicide Prevention Month throughout September 2026.
| Observance | 2026 Date | Primary Purpose |
| National Suicide Prevention Week | September 6–12 | Education, awareness, conversation, and prevention |
| 988 Day | September 8 | Awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline |
| World Suicide Prevention Day | Thursday, September 10 | Global suicide-prevention awareness and action |
National Suicide Prevention Week — September 6–12, 2026
In 2026, National Suicide Prevention Week runs from Sunday, September 6 through Saturday, September 12. AFSP lists those dates on its current national events calendar.
The week is an opportunity to move suicide prevention from abstract awareness into practical action.
That can mean learning the warning signs, checking in with someone whose behavior has concerned you, becoming more comfortable asking directly about suicide, or making sure family members know where crisis support is available.
One simple action is to save 988 in your phone and share the resource with people in your household or support network. You do not need to wait for a crisis before learning what resources are available.
988 Day takes place annually on September 8, or 9/8.
The 988 Lifeline describes it as a national Day of Action designed to increase awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
The official 2026 theme is:
“988 Reasons: Your reason is reason enough.”
SAMHSA explains that the theme is intended to reinforce that someone does not need to be at the point of a severe crisis before asking for support. Whatever the reason for reaching out, support can still be appropriate.
Individuals and organizations can participate by sharing accurate information about 988, checking in with people they care about, and using #988Day to help increase awareness.
World Suicide Prevention Day is Thursday, September 10, 2026.
The observance takes place annually on September 10 and was established in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention in partnership with the World Health Organization.
The 2024–2026 theme is:
“Changing the Narrative on Suicide.”
Its call to action is:
“Start the Conversation.”
WHO explains that the campaign is intended to challenge harmful myths, reduce stigma, and encourage more open and compassionate conversations about suicide.
For families and friends, “start the conversation” can be very practical. If something feels wrong, ask. If someone describes suicidal thoughts, listen. If you are uncertain what comes next, connect with appropriate professional or crisis support.
Suicide Risk, Depression, and Substance Use Can Overlap
Suicidal thoughts can occur in many different circumstances, and it would be inaccurate to assume that every person experiencing them has depression or a substance use disorder.
However, mental health symptoms and substance use sometimes overlap.
Depression can involve symptoms such as hopelessness, withdrawal, sleep changes, loss of interest, and thoughts about death or suicide. NIMH also identifies increased alcohol or drug use as a possible suicide warning sign.
For someone experiencing both a substance use disorder and a mental health condition, integrated or dual diagnosis treatment may be appropriate once immediate safety needs have been addressed.
Kora Behavioral Health currently describes its Lancaster, Pennsylvania services as including substance use disorder treatment alongside integrated mental health and dual-diagnosis care.
It is important to keep the sequence clear: 988 and emergency services address immediate crisis and safety needs. Ongoing behavioral health treatment addresses the conditions, symptoms, and circumstances that may need continued professional care.
When Comparing Ongoing Treatment Options, What Should You Look For?
After an immediate crisis has been addressed, consider whether a program:
- Uses appropriately licensed and credentialed clinicians.
- Conduct an assessment before recommending a level of care.
- Can address both substance use and mental health concerns when they occur together.
- Offers a level of care appropriate for the person’s current stability and needs.
- Explains treatment methods, clinical oversight, and costs or insurance processes clearly.
- Has procedures for responding to changes in safety or mental health status.
- Provides appropriate referrals when the person’s needs fall outside the program’s scope.
Because every person’s situation is different, the most supportive next step is to talk with a qualified behavioral health or medical professional who can listen carefully, understand the full picture, and help guide treatment decisions with compassion and care.
Kora also describes individual and family therapy within its treatment services, which may be relevant for some people pursuing ongoing care after stabilization.
Explore Behavioral Health Support at Kora
For ongoing substance use or co-occurring mental health concerns after immediate safety needs are addressed, learn more about Kora Behavioral Health’s treatment programs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Suicide Warning Signs
Does asking someone about suicide put the idea in their head?
No. Research summarized by NIMH indicates that directly asking someone whether they are thinking about suicide does not increase suicidal thoughts or suicidal behavior. Asking clearly can open the door to an honest conversation and help you understand whether additional support is needed.
What should I do if someone says they want to die?
Take the statement seriously. Ask directly whether they are thinking about suicide and listen without judgment. If they tell you they intend to kill themselves, do not leave them alone or promise secrecy. Contact 988 for crisis guidance. If the situation is immediately life-threatening, call 911.
Can I contact 988 about someone else?
Yes. You do not need to be the person experiencing the crisis. Friends, relatives, caregivers, and advocates can call or text 988 because they are worried about another person and need help deciding what to do next.
Is increased drinking or drug use a warning sign?
It can be. Both NIMH and the 988 Lifeline identify increased alcohol or drug use as a possible suicide warning sign, particularly when the change is new, worsening, or occurring with other signs of significant emotional distress. It does not prove someone is considering suicide, but it is a reason to pay attention and ask how they are doing.
What if I am not sure whether the situation is serious enough?
You do not have to determine the level of risk by yourself. You can call or text 988 for support and guidance, including when you are worried about someone else. The 2026 988 Day theme “Your reason is reason enough”—reinforces that people do not need to wait until distress reaches a particular threshold before reaching out.
You Don’t Have to Handle a Mental Health Crisis Alone
Recognizing the warning signs of suicide does not mean you have to become someone’s therapist or determine exactly how much danger they are in.
Your role may simply be to notice, ask, listen, connect, and follow up.
If you or someone you care about is struggling or experiencing suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 for immediate crisis support. If there is an immediate life-threatening situation, call 911.
After the immediate crisis has been addressed, a licensed mental health or behavioral health professional can help determine whether ongoing treatment for depression, substance use, trauma, another mental health condition, or co-occurring concerns is appropriate.
For people in Central Pennsylvania exploring ongoing behavioral health care, Kora Behavioral Health provides substance use and dual-diagnosis treatment services in Lancaster. Treatment recommendations depend on each person’s clinical circumstances, and individual results vary.
Need support now? Call or text 988.
For non-emergency questions about ongoing treatment after stabilization, contact Kora Behavioral Health or explore available dual-diagnosis and therapy services.