Suicide Warning Signs - FONG CARES FOUNDATION

Warning Signs of Suicide

Suicide is complex and determined by multiple factors, including mental illness, substance misuse, chronic illness, trauma, painful losses, exposure to violence, and social isolation.

More information of the mental health and suicide can be obtained by going to these organizations.

Home | Mental Health America

The State of Mental Health in America | Mental Health America

Use the link below to download “The State of Mental Health in America 2025”. The report provides state-by-state information with statistics on mental health issues.

Mental Health in America

Adult Suicide Warning Signs

Talking about or making plans for suicide.
Acting anxious, agitated, or behaving recklessly.
Talking about being a burden to others.
Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.
Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs.
Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.
Sleeping too little or too much.
Withdrawing or feeling isolated.
Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.
Displaying extreme mood swings.
Chronic illness or serious physical health conditions.

Notecards – Suicide Warning Signs for Adults | SAMHSA

Youth Suicide Warning Signs

Expressing hopelessness about the future.
Displaying severe or overwhelming emotional pain or distress.
Increased physical symptoms—such as fatigue, headaches, and stomach aches—commonly associated with emotional distress.
Changing or withdrawing from social connections or situations.
Changes in sleep (increased or decreased).
Anger or hostility that seems out of character or out of context.
Recent increased agitation or irritability.

Notecards – Suicide Warning Signs for Youth | SAMHSA

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Seasonal affective disorder is a form of depression that repeats during predictable seasonal shifts, impacting an estimated 5% of the global population—predominantly women. The condition typically stems from significant cyclical changes in daylight hours, with prevalence increasing in regions north of 40 degrees latitude (and less commonly in the Southern Hemisphere). Its etiology—or root cause—remains unclear to researchers.

Though “winter blues” are commonly reported, SAD is a distinct, diagnosed subtype of major depressive disorder first formally described in 1984. Key symptoms—lasting roughly four months each year—resemble common depression: fatigue, increased sleep, carbohydrate cravings, and social withdrawal. Researchers argue most cases develop from a circadian rhythm phase delay disorder resulting from reduced daylight, disrupting the production of serotonin and melatonin—key neurotransmitters that regulate mood. SAD often arises as part of a broader complex of mood conditions.