1. Becoming depressed and withdrawn
2. Exhibiting reckless and dangerous behavior
3. Giving away valued possessions and finishing "unfinished business"
4. Abusing drugs and/or alcohol
5. A sudden drastic change in mood and demeanor
6. Talking about committing suicide

1.  Becoming depressed and withdrawn.  
If you find that you are constantly feeling sad and disconnected, you may be showing signs of depression.  BEING SAD EVERY NOW AND THEN DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU ARE CLINICALLY DEPRESSED.  There is a huge difference between being in a funk for a few days and continually feeling miserable.  We all have days when we don’t want to get out of bed.  That’s perfectly normal.  It only becomes a problem when it becomes constant.  If you find that you consistently don’t want to see anyone and you don’t want to do anything, or you see a friend demonstrating this behavior, get help. 

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2.  Exhibiting reckless and dangerous behavior. 
Everybody likes to get an adrenaline rush now and then.  However, if you notice that a friend, or even yourself, has been acting very dangerously with a seeming disregard for personal safety, there may be a problem.   Being so careless may mean that you or your friend has lost, as cliché as it sounds, the will to live.  Losing respect for life is no little thing. A friend constantly putting him or herself in deadly situation may be looking for a way to end it all. 

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3.  Giving away valued possessions and finishing “unfinished business.” 
If you notice that someone close to you suddenly feels no connection with the things he once cherished, talk to him and see what’s up. That person may be, in a sense, finding a new home for the things that he loves – before he leaves the world.  Similarly, if a friend suddenly decides to forgive all of those who have done her wrong in life, it may be a sign that the end is, for that person, drawing near.

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4.  Abusing drugs and/or alcohol.  
This sort of behavior is an extension of the “behaving dangerously” category.  If someone is a regular substance abuser, then that person shows little concern for her own well-being. This is only heightened by the fact that drugs and alcohol impair mental abilities – a person who is high or drunk will not be able to use logical reasoning, so suicide may seem like an easy escape.   This behavior is particularly dangerous if the onset appears to be sudden and is accompanied by signs of severe clinical depression.

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5.  A sudden and drastic change in mood and demeanor.  
It may seem obvious that a cheerful, happy person who suddenly becomes withdrawn and negative may have a problem.  But it is also true in the reverse.  If someone who has been clinically depressed without treatment suddenly acts passive, agreeable, and calm, it may mean that that person has made the resolution to commit suicide. 

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6.  Talking about committing suicide.  
If a friend tells you that he wants it all to end, is ready to die, or that nobody would notice if he was gone, or any other sort of comment involving taking his own life, DO NOT IGNORE THESE COMMENTS. Talking about suicide is a very serious thing, especially if a person has displayed any other warning signs.  It is very important that you talk to your friend.  Make sure that the ones you love know that they are loved, and work the problem out with them.  If you or your friend needs professional help, seek it out.  This may not be easy, but it is far better than the alternative.

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