Myths surrounding suicide

There is a lot of misunderstanding about suicide that makes people reluctant to talk about it, fearing that they may make situations worse​.

Myth 1: Asking someone directly if they are thinking about suicide ‘plants’ the idea in their head​

Fact: There is no evidence that asking someone if they are suicidal plants the idea in their head.

Research has even shown that asking about suicide DOES NOT increase suicidal thinking, in fact it may reduce suicidal thinking and improve mental health​.
If you are concerned about someone, talking about suicide could help them to get the help that they need​.

Myth 2: Those who talk about suicide are not at risk of suicide​

Fact: This is NOT TRUE. By talking to someone, they may be reaching out for help​.

This myth is based on the idea that if someone is intent on ending their life then they won’t tell anyone they are thinking of suicide​.
It is thought that at least four in ten people who die by suicide will have talked to someone about taking their own life in advance of doing so. Every conversation about suicide should be taken seriously.​

Myth 3: Suicidal behaviour is motivated by ‘attention-seeking’​

Fact: This reinforces the very unhelpful stigma around suicide and self harm that has no place in society or health and care​.

People may think that if someone is seriously suicidal, then they would just do it. For individuals who are in emotional or mental pain or distress, self harm or suicide attempts are often ways of trying to manage or communicate that distress, or ‘help’ seeking, so they NEED attention​.
Research has shown that 1 in 10 young people will have self harmed in the previous year. Every act of self harm should be taken seriously​.