When to ask someone about suicide
When someone is thinking about suicide, their life experiences, behaviour and words can tell us that they might be at risk of harming themselves.
You might be worried about them because:
- they are having poorer periods of mental health or wellbeing
- they are going through a difficult life experience - for example if they have just had a baby, are going through a divorce, or have lost their job
- their behaviour has changed - such as withdrawing from their normal social activities, or they have started drinking more alcohol, or suddenly seem calm
- they are expressing feelings of hopelessness, self-hatred and despair
- they are saying things that suggest they are thinking about suicide - such as talking about death a lot, saying things like “I do not want to be here anymore” or “you’d all be better off without me”
- they are doing things that could be signs of them preparing to die - such as making a will, giving their possessions away, or saying goodbye to people
To learn more, look at Zero Suicide Alliance's
Page last updated: 19 August 2025