District-Wide Safe Schools and Crisis Plan - Blytheville Public Schools

H.6. Myths and Facts About Suicide
MYTH: People who talk about suicide don't commit suicide.
FACT: Most people who commit suicide have given clues of some type to one or more
people. It is not safe to assume that someone talking about suicide will not attempt it;
the majority of those who attempt suicide have stated their intent to someone.
MYTH: Suicide happens without warning.
FACT: While explicit verbal warnings are not always given, there are clues ahead of time. The
difficulty is that not everyone recognizes the signs and symptoms that would alert
him/her to the possibility of suicide.
MYTH: Suicidal people are fully intent on dying.
FACT: Rather than specifically wanting to die, students who attempt/commit suicide often do
so simply because they have exhausted their coping skills and see no other options
for relief from pain.
MYTH: Once suicidal, a person is suicidal forever.
FACT: Preoccupation with suicidal thoughts is usually time-limited. Most young people who
work through a suicidal crisis can go on to lead healthy lives.
MYTH: Once a person attempts suicide, the humiliation and pain will prevent future
attempts.
FACT: Eighty percent of persons who commit suicide have made at least one prior attempt
(Hafen & Frandsen, 1986). It is critical that concerned adults and peers monitor a
student who has attempted suicide for several months following the attempt. Those
students who receive help for their suicidal risk before they have made an attempt
have a better prognosis than those who were intervened upon following an
attempted suicide.
MYTH: Suicide occurs more often among the wealthy.
FACT: Suicide knows no socioeconomic boundaries.
MYTH: Suicidal behavior is inherited.
FACT: As with other patterns of behavior, suicide sometimes seems to run in families.
However, suicide is not a genetic trait, so it is not inherited. What can appear to be a
family trait of suicide may be because family members share a common emotional
environment and often adopt similar methods of coping. In a family where someone
has committed suicide, suicide may be viewed as acceptable in times of distress.
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