Screening for Mental Health, Inc.
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Screening for Mental Health, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to mental health screening and suicide prevention, is launching an urgent nationwide campaign calling on every American to “Act Now to Stop a Suicide.” The campaign emphasizes that suicide is preventable, that warning signs exist in the vast majority of cases, and that immediate action by friends, family members, coworkers, and community members can save lives.
With suicide claiming more than 49,000 American lives annually and ranking as a leading cause of death across multiple age groups, Screening for Mental Health stresses that prevention requires collective action. The organization’s message is clear and urgent: when you recognize warning signs, act immediately. Do not wait, do not hesitate, and do not assume someone else will intervene. The time to act is now.
Suicide represents one of the most devastating yet preventable public health crises facing America today. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide rates have increased approximately 30 percent over the past two decades. The crisis affects every demographic group, every community, and every region of the country. Behind each statistic is a person who was suffering, a family forever changed, and a community left searching for answers and struggling with grief.
Research consistently demonstrates that most individuals who die by suicide exhibited recognizable warning signs in the days, weeks, or months before their death. Studies show that approximately 75 to 80 percent of people who died by suicide communicated their intent either directly or indirectly to someone in their life. Yet these signals often go unrecognized, are dismissed as temporary struggles, or are met with uncertainty about how to respond. This gap between warning signs present and intervention taken represents the critical space where prevention must occur.
“We know that suicide is preventable,” states Doug Katz, President of Screening for Mental Health. “We know what the warning signs are. We know what actions save lives. What we need now is for every American to learn these warning signs, take them seriously, and act immediately when they recognize someone in crisis. You do not need to be a mental health professional to save a life. You need to be willing to notice, to care, and to act.”
Screening for Mental Health emphasizes that recognizing warning signs represents the critical first step in suicide prevention. While mental health professionals conduct formal risk assessments, family members, friends, coworkers, teachers, and community members are most often the first to observe changes in behavior that signal someone is in distress.
Immediate warning signs requiring urgent action include:
Talking about suicide or death: Direct statements like “I wish I were dead,” “I want to kill myself,” “I can’t go on,” or “Everyone would be better off without me” must always be taken seriously. Indirect references such as “I won’t be a problem much longer” or “Nothing matters anymore” also warrant immediate attention.
Seeking means to end their life: Researching suicide methods online, acquiring firearms, stockpiling medications, or otherwise obtaining lethal means indicates high risk and requires immediate intervention.
Expressing hopelessness or having no reason to live: Statements reflecting belief that situations will never improve, that there is no way out, or that life has no meaning signal dangerous levels of despair.
Feeling trapped or in unbearable pain: Expressing feelings of being trapped in circumstances with no escape or describing psychological pain as unbearable indicates severe distress.
Being a burden to others: Repeatedly stating that others would be better off without them or that they are a burden to family and friends reflects dangerous thinking patterns associated with suicide risk.
Increased substance use: Dramatic increases in alcohol or drug use often represent attempts to cope with unbearable emotional pain and increase impulsivity and risk-taking behavior.
Withdrawing from friends, family, and activities: Isolation and disconnection from previously valued relationships and activities signal deepening depression and loss of protective factors.
Extreme mood changes: Dramatic shifts between depression and agitation, sudden rage, or unexplained calmness after a period of severe distress can indicate that someone has made a decision to end their life.
Reckless or self-destructive behavior: Engaging in dangerous activities with apparent disregard for personal safety, such as reckless driving, unprotected sex, or dangerous substance use.
Giving away prized possessions: Distributing valued items, updating wills, making final arrangements, or otherwise preparing for death.
Saying goodbye: Contacting people to say farewell in ways that seem unusual or final, as if preparing for a permanent separation.
Beyond immediate warning signs, certain circumstances and conditions elevate suicide risk and should heighten vigilance:
Mental health conditions: Depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, anxiety disorders, PTSD, and substance use disorders all increase suicide risk. The presence of multiple co-occurring conditions further elevates risk.
Previous suicide attempts: Prior suicide attempts represent one of the strongest predictors of future attempts. Individuals who have survived previous attempts require ongoing monitoring and support.
Recent significant losses or stressors: Death of loved ones, relationship breakups, divorce, job loss, financial crisis, legal troubles, serious illness diagnosis, or other major life stressors can precipitate suicidal crises, particularly when multiple stressors occur simultaneously.
Family history of suicide: Individuals with family members who have died by suicide face elevated risk, reflecting both genetic vulnerabilities and environmental factors.
Access to lethal means: Easy access to firearms, medications, or other lethal means increases risk, as suicidal crises are often time-limited and impulsive. Restricting access to means saves lives.
Chronic pain or serious illness: Physical health conditions causing persistent pain, disability, or terminal prognosis increase suicide risk, particularly when combined with depression.
History of trauma or abuse: Childhood abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, combat trauma, and other traumatic experiences elevate lifetime suicide risk.
Social isolation: Lack of social support, feelings of disconnection, loneliness, and absence of meaningful relationships increase vulnerability.
When warning signs are present, Screening for Mental Health urges immediate action. Many people hesitate to intervene, worried about overreacting, invading privacy, or damaging relationships. The organization emphasizes that these concerns, while understandable, should never prevent someone from potentially saving a life. It is always better to err on the side of caution.
Critical steps to take when you recognize warning signs:
Ask directly about suicide: Research conclusively demonstrates that asking someone if they are thinking about suicide does not increase their risk or plant ideas. Direct questions open dialogue and show you take their pain seriously. Ask clearly and calmly: “Are you thinking about killing yourself?” or “Are you having thoughts of suicide?” Listen to their answers without judgment.
Listen actively and validate their pain: Allow the person to express their feelings without interrupting, minimizing their suffering, or offering quick fixes. Avoid statements like “you have so much to live for” or “others have it worse,” which can feel dismissive. Instead, validate their struggle: “I hear that you are in terrible pain. I am glad you are telling me. We are going to get through this together.”
Do not leave them alone: If the person is in immediate danger, stay with them. Your physical presence provides safety and demonstrates commitment to their wellbeing. Do not trust promises that they will not harm themselves if high-risk warning signs are present.
Remove access to lethal means: If possible, remove firearms, medications, sharp objects, or other means the person might use to harm themselves. This simple action can prevent impulsive suicide attempts, as most suicidal crises are temporary and reducing access to means saves lives.
Get help immediately: Call 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for immediate support from trained crisis counselors. If the person is in immediate danger of harming themselves, call 911 or take them to the nearest emergency room. Do not attempt to handle a suicidal crisis alone.
Connect them to professional support: Help the person schedule an urgent appointment with a mental health provider. Offer to assist with insurance navigation, finding providers, or attending appointments with them if helpful. Ensure they have concrete next steps and support accessing care.
Follow up consistently: After the immediate crisis passes, continue checking in regularly. Suicide risk fluctuates over time. Ongoing support, monitoring, and connection demonstrate long-term commitment to their wellbeing and provide crucial protective factors.
Screening for Mental Health wants everyone to know that professional crisis support is available any time, day or night, at no cost:
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Simply dial or text 988 to reach trained crisis counselors. This service is free, confidential, and available 24/7/365 to anyone experiencing emotional distress, suicidal thoughts, or concern about someone else. Services available in English and Spanish with additional support for LGBTQ+ youth, veterans, and other populations.
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 to connect with trained crisis counselors via text message. This option particularly appeals to younger individuals who may prefer text communication or those who cannot speak aloud in their current environment.
Veterans Crisis Line: Veterans, service members, and their families can press 1 after calling 988 or text 838255 for specialized support from counselors trained in military culture and veteran-specific issues.
Trevor Project Lifeline (LGBTQ+ Youth): Call 1-866-488-7386, text START to 678678, or access online chat at thetrevorproject.org for support specifically for LGBTQ+ young people.
For immediate emergencies: Call 911 if someone is actively attempting suicide or in immediate danger of harming themselves.
Mental health screening serves as a critical tool in suicide prevention, identifying individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, and other conditions associated with increased suicide risk before crises develop. Screening for Mental Health offers free, confidential online screening tools at MentalHealthScreening.org covering depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, eating disorders, and other conditions.
These brief questionnaires take just minutes to complete and provide immediate results along with educational resources and guidance on seeking professional help when indicated. The screenings are completely anonymous unless individuals choose to share results with healthcare providers or loved ones.
Research demonstrates that communities implementing systematic mental health screening programs experience measurable reductions in suicide attempts and completions. Schools using Screening for Mental Health’s SOS Signs of Suicide program, which includes mental health education and screening, have documented 40 percent reductions in suicide attempts among participating students.
Screening for Mental Health’s Act Now campaign represents a call for every American to take responsibility for suicide prevention in their communities. While mental health professionals provide essential clinical care, suicide prevention requires collective action from everyone.
“We are calling on every American to be part of the solution,” emphasizes Katz. “Learn the warning signs. Take them seriously. Ask direct questions. Connect people to help. Follow up. These actions save lives. You might be the only person who recognizes that someone is in crisis. You might be the only person positioned to intervene. We need you to act now.”
The time to act is now because suicidal crises can escalate quickly. The person you are concerned about needs help today, not next week or after you have thought about it more. Resources are available. Interventions work. What is needed is a collective willingness to recognize urgency and take action.