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Suicide Isn't a Myth, but Some of What We Believe Is

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 700,000 people die each year by suicide. Suicide is real, and it’s a real problem. However, many of the things that people believe about suicide are myths. These myths keep us from understanding suicide and helping more people want to stay alive.

This site has a simple mission: to provide the truth about suicide when we know it and identify the myths that too many believe. We don’t believe we know everything about suicide or even everything there is to know about these suicide myths. That’s why each myth includes all the evidence about the myth – even if that evidence seems to contradict our conclusion.

If you disagree with our conclusions, write us. If you have more evidence to support our conclusion that it is a myth, send it to us. We want to be comprehensive in our coverage.

We’re not a crisis center. If you’re here because you are considering suicide as an option, we’d love it if you’d call a crisis center to see if they can understand your thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. Calling 988 can connect you with someone who will listen. We know that many things seem permanent, pervasive, and personal, but we’ve never found anything that really is. 

The Myths

Learn more about suicide myths – and the truths hidden behind them – by clicking the cards below.

Myth: Alcohol or Drugs are Involved in Every Suicide

Only about one-third of people who die by suicide are positive for blood alcohol at the time of their death.
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Myth: All Suicides Can Be Prevented

While preventing death by suicide is worthy goal, determined individuals will try hard to overcome barriers.
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Myth: Asking About Suicide Will Plant the Idea

People are afraid to talk about suicide, because they think it will plant the idea in someone's head.
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Myth: Cosmetic Breast Surgery Causes Suicide

Though the suicide rate in those who elect to have cosmetic surgery is higher, it's not a causal relationship.
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Myth: Every Suicide Attempt Has Warning Signs

Some people who die by suicide don't show signs; for people showing signs, few attempt.
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Myth: If Someone Dies by Suicide, Others Will, Too

While suicide clusters exist, not every suicide will lead to more.
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Myth: If We Restrict One Means of Suicide, They'll Just Pick Another

By blocking their preferred means, we can greatly reduce the risk of suicide by other means.
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Myth: Inpatient Hospitalization is Best for People with Suicidal Ideation

There's no evidence of hospitalization's efficacy, and subsequent discharge is considered a period of high risk.
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Myth: It’s Just a Cry for Help

Suicide attempts aren't attention seeking, and they're always something to take note of.
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Myth: Medicines Cause Suicidal Behavior

A decades-old study continues to have impacts on how medicines are labeled and prescribed, despite that study reporting no suicide deaths.
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Myth: Most People Who Die by Suicide Leave a Note

Fewer than one-third of people leave suicide notes, and those that do rarely contain the answers loved ones seek.
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Myth: No-Suicide Contracts Work

Contracts create a false sense of safety in the provider and increase the internal stress in the patient.
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Myth: Once You’ve Made an Attempt, You’ll Eventually Die by Suicide

A large proportion (85-90%) of those who attempt suicide don't ultimately die from it.
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Myth: People Are Either Suicidal or Not

Suicidal ideations are thoughts, and like any thoughts, they come and go with varying strength.
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Myth: People Will Always Volunteer Their Suicidal Ideation

Though a few people might communicate suicidal ideation, most will not.
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Myth: Suicidal Behavior Peaks in Winter

Many believe holidays increase rates of suicide, but suicidal behavior really peaks in spring.
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Myth: Suicide Is a Form of Self-Mastery

When people believe their lives are out of control, there's a false conception that suicide gives them back control.
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Myth: Suicide Is an Act of Anger, Aggression, or Revenge

There's a positive correlation between anger or aggression and suicide, but these don't motivate most suicides.
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Myth: Suicide Is an Easy Escape that Cowards Use

Our self-preservation instincts are strong, making it extremely difficult to cause ourselves harm.
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Myth: Suicide is Never Decided Suddenly

Some suicide attempters make elaborate plans, but many only consider suicide within an hour of their attempt.
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Myth: Suicide Is Selfish

Suicidal behavior can stem from feeling like a burden, and cognitive constriction can play a role in attempters' perspective.
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Myth: Suicide Statistics Are Accurate

Determining intent of the deceased or accuracy of a coroner's certification can muddy suicide statistics.
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Myth: The Death Scene Shows that the Cause of Death Was Suicide

Some suicides can look like murders, and some murders are staged to look like suicides.
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Myth: Those Who Die by Suicide Had a Mental Illness

Not all people who die by suicide had a mental illness, and most people with mental illnesses don't attempt suicide.
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Myth: You Can Tell Who Will Die by Suicide by Their Appearance

Even the best assessments, clinicians, and models we have aren't good at predicting future suicides.
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Myth: You Must be a Clinician to Help Prevent Suicide

We need everyone, clinician and non-clinician, to support those who are considering suicide.
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Myth: Young Children Don’t Die by Suicide

It's hard to believe children can die by suicide, but not believing doesn't prevent their attempts.
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Myth: Young Ones Should Be Lied to About Deaths by Suicide

Lying decreases trust between a child and their parent, though it's sometimes appropriate to withhold some details.
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The Mysteries

There are still many mysteries about suicide. Read more about these below.

Mystery: Animals Don’t Die by Suicide

We've not demonstrated that animals act with intent, which suicide requires, but they do behave in self-destructive ways.
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About Us

SuicideMyths.org is a service of Robust Futures, a non-profit dedicated to improving physical and mental health of everyone. It’s born out of the loss of Alexander Mitchell Hedlund in August of 2021 to suicide. Alex was the son of Terri and Robert Bogue. His loss didn’t fit the models, so the couple decided to better understand what happened. In the process, they discovered much of what is shared in the suicide prevention space is fiction.

Robert started reading suicide books. Terri and Robert read research, attended conferences, and spoke with researchers. What they found frustrated them. Too many people were well intentioned, but they were doing things that caused more problems than they solved. Ultimately, they recognized the need to create an authoritative place where the truth and myths about suicide could be cataloged.

If you’ve been affected by suicide, either in your own life or in the life of a loved one, we’d urge you to help us understand your experience.