People who are thinking about suicide often give some form of warning. If someone you know shows the warning signs listed below, let them know you care about them and are concerned.

Be available to listen and talk, but know your limits as a helper. Refer the person to an agency, like the Counseling Center on the third floor of Lucina Hall, that can provide the necessary services. The phone number for the Counseling Center is (765) 285-1736 during the daytime; call the answering service at (765) 747-7330 after hours to speak to the on-call counselor.

If the person is in immediate danger, call 911 or University Police at (765) 285-1111 and stay with the person until help arrives. Don't worry about being disloyal, because you could be saving a life.

Early Warning Signs

• Sudden changes in behavior: becoming withdrawn, moody, or irritable
• Being sad or depressed, crying.
• Changes in eating or sleeping habits.
• Increased frequency and/or quantity of alcohol and/or other drug use.
• Sudden changes in appearance, especially neglect of appearance.
• Restlessness and agitation.
• Overreaction to criticism, overly self-critical.
• Inability to recover from a loss; ongoing and overwhelming feelings of grief.

Late Warning Signs

• Dropping out of activities, increasing isolation and withdrawal.
• Radical personality or behavioral changes.
• Sudden or increasingly dangerous risk-taking behavior.
• Any sudden changes in behavior or mood that have you wondering–trust your gut.
• Making final arrangements; giving things away, putting one's life in order.
• Threatening to commit suicide, openly talking about death, not being around, or not being wanted or needed.
• Ironically, sometimes a sudden and inexplicable improvement in behavior or appearance (the personal feels better knowing they have a plan to deal with the pain).