Often, but not always, a person may show certain symptoms or behaviors before a suicide attempt, including:

• Having trouble concentrating or thinking clearly
• Giving away belongings
• Talking about going away or the need to "get my affairs in order"
• Suddenly changing behavior, especially calmness after a period of anxiety
• Losing interest in activities that they used to enjoy
• Performing self-destructive behaviors, such as heavily drinking alcohol, using illegal drugs, or cutting their body
• Pulling away from friends or not wanting to go out
• Suddenly having trouble in school or work
• Talking about death or suicide, or even saying that they want to hurt themselves
• Talking about feeling hopeless or guilty
• Changing sleep or eating habits

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Depression in children

Depression among the elderly

Review Date: 03/07/2011
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, Unviersity of Washington, School of Medicine; and David B. Merrill, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)