Medical problems:
Financial/legal problems:
Medical problems such as
Financial or legal
diabetes, thyroid problems, chronic pain, or
problems, such as overwhelming debt, gambling
multiple sclerosis can increase chances that you
problems, or problems with the law, can be very
may think about suicide. Make sure you have proper
stressful. It is important to know that there may be
medical care for health problems. Some medications
free services that can help you deal with financial
can increase feelings of suicide. It is important to
or legal problems. These include the Credit
speak to your doctor about this. You can also get
Counselling Society (1-888-527-8999), the Problem
information by calling the BC Nurse Line (1-866-
Gambling Help Line (1-888-795-6111), or the Legal
215-4700) or the Living a Healthy Life with Chronic
Services Society (1-866-577-2525).
Conditions program (1-866-902-3767).
Lack of connection to friends and others:
Sexual identity issues:
People who are lesbian,
Thoughts of suicide can increase if you spend a lot
gay, bisexual, or transgender may have a higher risk
of time alone, or don’t feel you can tell anyone
of suicide. Confusion about sexual identity and fears
your problems. Talk to someone, like a professional,
of possible or real rejection from family or friends
about ways that you can increase social supports
can make things worse. There is support available.
in your life. You may feel that the people that are in
Prideline (1-800-566-1170) is a peer support and
your life don’t understand the pain you are
information phone line. Prideline is open 7 days a
feeling. Talk to a professional about ways that you
week, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
can let others know of the pain and unhappiness you
are feeling. The Social Supports wellness module at
gives ideas for how to
improve your social supports.
Drug and alcohol problems:
Using alcohol or
drugs can make feelings of depression, anxiety, and
thoughts about suicide worse. Drugs and alcohol
can change the way you think about problems in
your life. If drugs or alcohol are causing your
problems, you can get information on treatment
from the BC Alcohol and Drug Information and
Referral Service (1-800-663-1441).
Dr. Joti Samra, R.Psych. & Dr. Dan Bilsker, R.Psych. (2007)
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1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)