Treatment

A person may need emergency treatment after a suicide attempt. They may need first aid, CPR, or mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

People who try to commit suicide may need to stay in a hospital for treatment and to reduce the risk of future attempts. Therapy is one of the most important parts of treatment.

The condition that may have caused the suicide attempt should be treated. This includes:

Bipolar disorder
Borderline personality disorder
Drug or alcohol dependence
Major depression

People who are at risk for suicidal behavior may not get treated for many reasons, including:

They believe nothing will help
They do not want to tell anyone they have problems
They think it is a sign of weakness to ask for help
They do not know where to go for help

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, there are numbers that you can call from anywhere in the United States, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 1-800-SUICIDE or 1-800-999-9999.

As with any other type of emergency, call the local emergency number (such as 911) right away if someone you know has attempted suicide. Do not leave the person alone, even after you have called for help.