Myth: People who talk about killing themselves rarely complete suicide.

Reality: Anyone who talks about suicide needs to be taken seriously. Most people who complete suicide give clues or warning signs of their intent. These may be spoken or they may be actions.

Myth: A suicidal person clearly wants to die.

Reality: The majority of suicidal people give clues about their intent to die. If they were intent on dying, they wouldn?t communicate any intention. The overwhelming majority of people don?t want to die = they want to end the emotional pain they are experiencing.

Myth: If you promise to keep someone?s suicidal plan "a secret" you should always keep that promise.

Reality: No. This is once secret you cannot keep. You may lose a friendship temporarily, but you may save your friend?s life.

Myth: Suicidal feelings are permanent. Reality: Suicidal feelings are a temporary response to an overwhelming situation. Young people need to know suicidal feelings will pass and that help is available.

Myth: Asking or talking about suicide with a suicidal person increases the risk of suicide. Reality: Talking about suicide shows you are concerned about a young person and willing to listen. Allowing young people to speak openly about suicide will likely reduce the risk of suicide rather than give them the idea to try it.

Myth: Suicidal thoughts and behavious are rare in young people.

Reality: A study by Horwood and Fergusson showed that up to 25% of young people in NZ may hold suicidal thoughts with the majority not acting on them. A 1999 survey of a Central Otago school showed that 4% of pupils surveyed had attempted to commit suicide during the previous year. This is thought to be 1% lower than the national average.

Myth: Most suicidal people never seek or ask for help with their problems.

Reality: Quite the reverse is true. There is evidence that people considering suicide often tell their friends of their thoughts and plans.

Myth: All suicidal young people are depressed.

Reality: While depression is a contributory factor in most suicides it need not be present for suicide to be attempted or completed.

Myth: There is a typical person who commits suicide.

Reality: Although research has identified clear warning signs and risk factors associated with suicide and attempted suicide, these do not have to be present and there is no typical person who is likely to complete suicide. Research has also shown that many people who have committed suicide have symptoms of depression. However, an Auckland study showed that only 10% of people who completed suicide had been involved with mental health services.

Myth: People who have previously attempted suicide have eliminated the idea from their system and are therefore less likely to attempt it again.

Reality: This is far from true. There is a proven link between past suicide attempts and subsequent completion of suicide.

Myth: Suicide is painless.

Reality: Many suicide methods are very painful. Fictional portrayals of suicide do not usually include the reality of the pain.

Myth: Sudden improvement following a suicidal crisis means the risk is over.

Reality: Though the person may appear to be "happier" the risk of suicide may actually be higher. The apparent lifting of feelings may mean the person has made a firm decision to suicide and feels better because of this.

Myth: Most suicides occur with little or no warning.

Reality: It is likely that some suicides in young people are impulsive reactions to a loss or a humiliation. But even in these cases warning signs and/or prior problems (ie low self-esteem) are likely visible before an attempt.

http://www.youthaffairs.govt.nz/pag.cfm?i=197

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