The alarm bells

There is of course no set pattern of behaviour for those in danger of suicide. However, a sudden change in an teenager's habits, as well as the accumulation and persistence of a number of the following factors, should serve as warning signs :

• A previous suicide attempt
  
• A clear verbalisation of suicidal desires:
  - I'm going to kill myself
  - I'd rather be dead
  - I don't want to live any more
  - I want to die, etc.
  
• Suggestive comments:
  - Anyway, I won't bother you for much longer...
  - I'll never get out of this rut, it'd be better to stop here and now...
  - I'm going away on a long trip...
  - In a few days, you won't have to worry about me any more
  
• Farewell letters or the writing of a will
• Giving away of precious personal possessions
• Stocking up on medication or the disappearance of medication from the family medicine cabinet, the appearance of a firearm, etc.
• Isolation and withdrawal from society; cutting off links with others
• A marked lack of interest in schoolwork, or on the contrary, an excessive
  devotion to it
• A poor attention span or memory problems
• A lack of variety in activities, which may be limited to smoking or listening to
  the same music non-stop
• Depression, an inability to find pleasure in life, acute sadness, despair
  A low self-esteem
• Anxiety, anguish, fear, short-term phobias
• A rejection of former ties and a search for new friends
• Constantly fooling around or else permanently holed up in bedroom
  Eating disorders: eating too much or else not enough
• Insomnia or else over-sleeping
• Not taking care with one's health or physical appearance
• Constant complaining, apathy, or else excessive risk-taking