Opportunities to intervene? “Warning signs” for suicide in the days before dying

ABSTRACT

To validate warning signs for suicide, researchers interviewed 20 respondents, representing 17 suicides in Orleans Parish, Louisiana, about characteristics of the decedent in the year, month, and days preceding the death. Decedents did exhibit behaviors consistent with existing warning signs, but these were rarely new behaviors present 7 days prior to the suicide but not previously. Research is needed to continue to test warning signs for suicide, and education campaigns that teach warning signs may not be relevant for preventing suicide among those in mental health treatment or involved in the criminal justice system.

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the interviewees who participated in our study, as well as to Lisa Jaycox, Bryan Hallmark, Gary Cecchine, Kim Ruocco, Andrew Morral, Roberto Facundus, Jackie McCollum Facundus, and Rachael Cheramie-Gagliano.