Peoria Public Schools

•  Looking for ways to end their lives, including searching online for possible methods 

• Withdrawing from activities,

• Isolating themselves from family, friends, and loved ones 

• Sleeping too much or too little 

• Saying goodbye to others 

• Giving away valued possessions 

• Threatening to hurt or kill oneself or talking about wanting to hurt or kill oneself

• Feeling hopeless  

• Feeling rage or uncontrolled anger or seeking revenge 

• Acting recklessly or engaging in risky activities - seemingly without thinking

• Feeling trapped - like there's no way out 

• Increasing alcohol or drug use 

• Experiencing dramatic mood changes

• Becoming aggressive  

• Seeing no reason for living or having no sense of purpose in life  

Someone with suicidal thoughts may talk about: 

• Ending their life 

• Feeling hopeless 

• Having no reason to live 

• Being a burden to others 

• Feeling trapped 

• Unbearable pain (physical or emotional) 

• Death, dying, or suicide when these actions are out of the ordinary for the person 

Tips for starting a conversation: 

• Listen with empathy and without judgment. 

• Ask how you can help. 

• Keep it casual.  

• Let them open up at their pace. 

• Do not keep suicide a secret. Let the person know that you can help, but need to involve a trusted adult. 

• Encourage them to reach out for help.

• Encourage them to use one of the suicide phone numbers if they need help.