Suicide Prevention

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Suicide prevention strategies and resources for caregivers, peers, and professionals.

Suicide and suicidal thoughts are a serious concern for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This page includes resources, warning signs and prevention strategies.

If you or someone you know needs help now, call or text 988 or call 911 for immediate emergencies.

Suicide and suicidal thoughts are a serious concern for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).  Data suggest that people with disabilities are at a significantly higher risk for suicidal ideation, planning, and attempts than the general population.

Warning signs for people with IDD

Warning signs may look different or be harder to spot in people with developmental disabilities. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports adults with disabilities are more likely to report frequent mental distress than adults without disabilities. Caregivers and professionals should look for: 

      • Sudden withdrawal from family or activities they typically enjoy
      • Increased agitation, irritability, or self-injurious behavior
      • Persistent sadness or crying
      • Changes in appetite or sleep patterns
      • Uncharacteristic regression in daily living skills or difficulty learning new ones
      • Talking or ruminating about suicide or death in literal or concrete terms
      • Expressing feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
      • Making negative self-statements, such as “I’m a bad person” 
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If someone needs help

Call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

If the person is in immediate danger, call 911.

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Factors contributing to increased suicide risk for people with IDD

People with developmental disabilities often face a combination of health, social, and emotional risk factors that increase their vulnerability to suicidal behavior. These include:

      • High rates of co-occurring mental health conditions like depression and anxiety are observed in individuals with IDD, which is a major risk factor for suicide.
      • Due to stigma and difficulties with social interaction, people with IDD often experience loneliness and a lack of social support.
      • People with IDD are disproportionately exposed to bullying, abuse, and neglect, which can have long-lasting psychological effects.
      • Challenging family circumstances and a lack of overall social support can increase suicide risk.
      • Some individuals with IDD may have difficulty communicating their emotional distress, which can lead to undetected suicidal thoughts.
      • People with disabilities like autism may mask or conceal their traits to fit in, which can lead to a profound sense of not belonging and increased suicidal risk.
      • Many healthcare providers lack the training or validated screening tools to effectively assess suicide risk in individuals with IDD, resulting in unmet mental health needs.
      • While caregivers can be a vital source of support, increased dependence can also be a stressor that elevates suicide risk. 
Suicide Prevention and Intervention Strategies for People with IDD
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Preventing suicide in the IDD community requires a multi-faceted approach, including training, adapted screening tools, individualized safety plans, supporting caregivers, and increasing access to mental health care.

The HCDDS Suicide Prevention Task Force and its partners are working on a continuous program and outreach to improve prevention and intervention strategies, such as:

      • Training for healthcare providers to recognize IDD-specific risk factors, overcome diagnostic overshadowing, and use communication strategies that are clear and accessible.
      • Adapting standard suicide risk assessment tools for people with IDD
      • Developing individualized and evidence-based safety planning interventions. These can be adapted using visual aids, rehearsal, and multi-modal instruction to make these interventions more accessible.
      • People with IDD need access to appropriate mental health care, counseling, and community-based support networks to reduce stigma and isolation. Telehealth is emerging as a valuable tool for specialized support.
      • Educating and supporting caregivers is crucial for both identifying warning signs and helping with prevention strategies. 

Organizations like The 988 Lifeline, The Arc, Easterseals, the Ohio Department of DD, 1N5, and the Hamilton County Suicide Prevention Coalition offer resources tailored to families, peers, and professionals. 

This page is the culmination of six months of dedicated work from the Hamilton County Suicide Prevention Task Force, which includes HCDDS staff, community partners and people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Our goal is a proactive suicide prevention plan: ACT, which stands for Alert, Campaign, and Train. You can learn more about the Task Force’s work in this story.