Suicidal Tendencies (Suicidality): Symptoms, Complaints, Signs

The following symptoms and complaints may indicate suicidality (suicide risk):

  • Symptoms of depression; in particular.
    • Loss of self-esteem
    • Hopelessness
      • “no light at the end of the tunnel” (perplexity).
      • “having nothing left to live for”.
      • “no longer makes sense”
      • “just can’t (won’t) do it anymore”
  • Symptoms of bipolar disorder (here esp. ‘mixed states’ associated with a simultaneous or rapidly alternating occurrence of depressive and manic symptomatology).
  • Suicidal thoughts, plans, impulses.
  • Change in the relationship (“calm before the storm”)

Warning signs (red flags)

  • Drug use
  • Self-injury: self-injurious behavior (SVV) or autoaggressive behavior.
    • Acute suicide risk in the first month after self-injury increased by about 180 times
    • Risk of death due to acute alcohol or drug intoxication 34 times higher than in the control group