If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. If you’re in crisis or worried about someone, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US.
Worrying that someone you love might be thinking about suicide is frightening, and many people freeze because they don’t know what to say. You don’t need to be an expert. Knowing the warning signs, asking directly, and connecting the person to help are powerful steps. This guide explains suicide warning signs, how to help someone who is suicidal, how to make the environment safer, and where professional support fits in.
How Common Are Suicidal Thoughts?
Suicidal thoughts are more common than many people realize. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 5.0% of U.S. adults, about 12.8 million people, had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year; 1.4%, about 3.7 million, made a plan; and 0.6%, about 1.5 million, attempted suicide.
Suicidal thoughts are a sign of intense pain, not weakness, and most people who experience them can recover with support and treatment.
Share of U.S. adults aged 18 or older with serious thoughts of suicide, a suicide plan, or a suicide attempt in the past year.
Suicide Warning Signs to Watch For
Suicide warning signs include talking about wanting to die, feeling hopeless or trapped, or being a burden; looking for ways to end one’s life; withdrawing from people and activities; giving away belongings or saying goodbye; increased alcohol or drug use; extreme mood swings; sleeping too much or too little; and sudden calm after a period of distress.
- Talk: about death, hopelessness, being a burden, or having no reason to live.
- Behavior: withdrawing, giving things away, searching for means, reckless actions.
- Mood: depression, anxiety, agitation, rage, or sudden unexplained calm.
- Substances: drinking or using drugs more.
Risk can be higher after a loss, a crisis, a psychiatric hospital stay, or when someone has access to firearms or other lethal means.
You don't need the perfect words. Asking directly, listening, and staying connected can make the difference.
How to Help Someone Who Is Suicidal
To help someone who is suicidal, ask directly whether they’re thinking about suicide, listen without judgment, stay with them or stay connected, help remove access to lethal means, and connect them to help such as 988, a clinician, or emergency services. Asking directly doesn’t put the idea in someone’s head; it shows you care and makes it easier to talk.
- Ask directly. “Are you thinking about suicide?” Asking shows you care.
- Listen. Let them talk without judging, arguing, or rushing to fix.
- Stay connected. Stay with them if it’s safe, or keep in close contact.
- Reduce access to means. Help secure firearms, medications, and other lethal means.
- Connect to help. Call or text 988 together, or call 911 if there’s immediate danger.
If they have a plan, access to means, or you believe they’re in immediate danger, call 911 or take them to the nearest emergency room. Don’t leave them alone if it’s safe to stay.
Worried about yourself or someone else?
In a crisis, call or text 988 or call 911. For ongoing care, schedule an evaluation by telehealth.
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a free, confidential line in the US that you can call or text 24/7 to reach trained crisis counselors, for yourself or for someone you’re worried about. It can help in the moment and connect people to local resources. For immediate danger, 911 remains the right call.
| Do | Avoid |
|---|---|
| Ask directly about suicide | Hinting or changing the subject |
| Listen and take them seriously | Arguing or minimizing their pain |
| Stay with them or stay connected | Leaving them alone in a crisis |
| Help remove access to lethal means | Promising to keep it a secret |
| Call or text 988, or 911 for immediate danger | Waiting to see if it passes |
Safety Planning and Reducing Access to Means
Safety planning means creating a short, written plan with warning signs, coping strategies, people to contact, professional resources including 988, and steps to make the environment safer. Reducing access to lethal means, such as storing firearms away from the home or locked, and securing medications, is one of the most effective ways to prevent suicide during a crisis.
Suicide is a leading public health concern. According to the CDC National Center for Health Statistics, the U.S. age-adjusted suicide rate was 14.1 per 100,000 in 2023, and the NCHS data brief notes the rate for males has been three to four times the rate for females. Our guide to life after a psychiatric hospital stay covers safety planning in more detail.
Suicide deaths per 100,000 standard population.
Worried and unsure what to do
Someone you love seems hopeless, and you’re afraid of saying the wrong thing.
Clear, practical steps
Ask directly, stay connected, secure lethal means, and call or text 988.
Support and a path forward
Immediate safety, then treatment that addresses what’s behind the pain.
Dr. Gabriella Farkas, MD PhD
Board-certified adult psychiatrist with a PhD in neuroscience. After a crisis has passed, Dr. Farkas provides careful evaluation and treatment, including safety planning.
About Dr. Farkas →Getting Ongoing Care for Suicidal Thoughts
Getting ongoing care for suicidal thoughts means treating what’s behind them, often depression, anxiety, trauma, substance use, or another condition, with therapy, medication, or both, and building a plan for staying safe. Treatment works, and many people who once felt hopeless go on to feel better.
Once the immediate crisis has passed, a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation can guide next steps. Telehealth isn’t a substitute for emergency care. Our guides to depression in men and helping a loved one get care offer more support. Please remember: call or text 988, or call 911 in an emergency.
Key Terms
- Suicidal ideation
- Thoughts about wanting to die or ending one’s life.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- A free, confidential US crisis line reachable by call or text, 24/7.
- Safety plan
- A written plan with warning signs, coping steps, contacts, and ways to stay safe.
- Lethal means safety
- Reducing access to firearms, medications, and other methods during a crisis.
Common Questions About Suicide Prevention
What are the warning signs of suicide?
Warning signs of suicide include talking about wanting to die or being a burden, feeling hopeless or trapped, withdrawing, giving away belongings, increased substance use, extreme mood swings, and sudden calm after distress. Take them seriously. Ask directly. Stay connected. Call or text 988 for help. You don't have to handle it alone.
Does asking about suicide put the idea in someone's head?
No, asking directly about suicide doesn't plant the idea; it shows you care and makes it easier for the person to talk about what they're feeling. Be calm and direct. Listen without judgment. Take the answer seriously. Connect them to help. You don't have to handle it alone. Help is available now.
What should I do if someone tells me they're suicidal?
If someone tells you they're suicidal, listen, take them seriously, stay with them or stay connected, help remove access to lethal means, and call or text 988 together, or call 911 if there's immediate danger. Don't promise secrecy. Don't leave them alone in a crisis. Follow up afterward. Your support matters.
What is the 988 Lifeline?
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a free, confidential US crisis line you can call or text 24/7 to reach trained counselors, for yourself or someone you're worried about. It can help in the moment. It connects people to local resources. For immediate danger, call 911. You don't have to handle it alone.
How common are suicidal thoughts?
Suicidal thoughts are more common than many realize; in 2023, 5.0% of U.S. adults, about 12.8 million people, had serious thoughts of suicide, and 1.4% made a plan. They signal intense pain. Most people can recover. Treatment works. Help is available. You don't have to handle it alone. Help is available now.
Why does reducing access to firearms matter?
Reducing access to firearms and other lethal means matters because suicidal crises are often brief, and making means less available during those moments can save lives. Store firearms away from home or locked. Secure medications. Ask family for help. It's a caring step. You don't have to handle it alone. Help is available now.
Can treatment help with suicidal thoughts?
Yes, treatment helps with suicidal thoughts by addressing what's behind them, such as depression, anxiety, trauma, or substance use, with therapy, medication, or both, along with a safety plan. Many people recover. Follow-up matters. Telehealth can support ongoing care. In a crisis, call or text 988 or call 911. You don't have to handle it alone.
Help is available right now.
Call or text 988. In immediate danger, call 911.
Sources
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. “Key substance use and mental health indicators: 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (main highlights).” SAMHSA, 2024. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH%202023%20Annual%20Release/2023-nsduh-main-highlights.pdf?utm_
- CDC National Center for Health Statistics. “Suicide rates largely unchanged in 2023, but still high.” NCHS Blog, September 2025. https://cdc.gov/nchs/blog/posts/2025/09/suicide-rates-largely-unchanged-in-2023-but-still-high.html
- CDC National Center for Health Statistics. “Changes in suicide rates in the United States from 2022 to 2023.” NCHS Data Brief No. 541, September 2025. https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/174625/cdc_174625_DS1.pdf
Educational content only. This article does not constitute medical advice and does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or call 911. Treatment decisions should be made with a qualified clinician familiar with your circumstances. Last reviewed: September 2026.