Women & Suicide Prevention: Recognizing Signs and Offering Support
Last updated September 2025
If you’re in immediate danger or worried about someone’s safety, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or chat at 988lifeline.org. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7.
Elena is 49. On paper, life looks “fine”—steady job, busy family, no “obvious” red flags. But privately, she feels exhausted and numb, sleeping poorly, skipping meals, and pulling away from friends. At her annual visit, she smiles and says, “I’m just tired,” but the truth is she’s hurting, and she isn’t sure how to ask for help.
Elena’s story is common. Depression in women can be invisible from the outside, especially in midlife, when caregiving, work demands, and hormonal transitions stack up. Knowing the warning signs and where to turn can save a life.
Why Focus on Midlife Women?
National data from the CDC show that suicide rates among U.S. women have risen in recent years, with the highest rates consistently seen in women ages 45–64. From 2020 to 2022, rates increased for women 25 and older, including those 45–64 (from 7.9 to 8.6 deaths per 100,000, and the age-adjusted female suicide rate rose 4% from 2021 to 2022 (5.7 to 5.9 per 100,000).
Biology and life context both matter. Research from PLOS & MGH Women's Mental Health Center suggests perimenopause can coincide with a higher prevalence of suicidal thoughts compared with pre- or post-menopause, highlighting a vulnerable window that deserves proactive screening and support. None of this means suicide is inevitable. It means we should normalize screening, ask better questions, and make help easy to access.
Warning Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
Not everyone shows the same signs, and many women mask distress. Common warning signs include:
Talking about feeling hopeless, trapped, or like a burden
Withdrawing from friends, family, or activities
Major changes in sleep (too much or too little) or appetite
Increased alcohol or drug use
Extreme mood swings, agitation, or anxiety
Giving away possessions or saying goodbye in unusual ways
Researching methods or expressing intent to die
These and other risk/protective factors are outlined by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; knowing them helps you respond sooner.
How to Help a Friend (What to Say and Do)
You don’t need perfect words, just presence and a simple plan. The National Institute of Mental Health recommends five clear steps: Ask, Be There, Keep Them Safe, Help Them Connect, Follow Up. Here’s how that looks in everyday language:
Ask directly and kindly.
“Are you thinking about hurting yourself?” Asking does not plant the idea; it opens a door.Be there (in person or virtually).
Listen more than you speak. Validate: “I’m glad you told me. I’m here.”Help keep them safe.
If there’s immediate danger, call/text 988 or emergency services. Help limit access to lethal means when possible.Help them connect.
Text or call 988, or reach out to a clinician, primary care provider, therapist, or trusted community resource. Offer to sit with them while they call.Follow up.
A check-in tomorrow, and next week, matters. Connection protects.
How Ms.Medicine Supports Women: Screening, Navigation, and Ongoing Access
We designed our model so women don’t have to navigate mental health alone, especially during midlife.
Proactive screening at routine visits.
We use validated questionnaires and open-ended conversations to identify depression, anxiety, sleep problems, substance use, and suicidality, without judgment.Concierge care navigation.
If screening flags concern, we move quickly: same- or next-week follow-ups, coordinated referrals to therapists/psychiatrists, and help scheduling. We also align care with medical drivers (e.g., perimenopause, thyroid, chronic pain).Ongoing, same-team access.
Secure messaging for symptom changes, fast medication checks, and structured follow-ups mean you’re not waiting months for help.Whole-person plans.
Sleep, nutrition, movement, stress skills, and (when appropriate) hormone therapy or medications, integrated and individualized
Quick Guide: What to Do Right Now
Worried about yourself or someone else? Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for 24/7 support.
Need information and community resources? AFSP’s “Get Help” page offers pathways for those struggling, supporters, and survivors.
Prefer a medical entry point? Contact your Ms.Medicine provider to schedule a confidential mental health screening and care-navigation visit.
If there is immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
For Context: What the Data Say
Suicides in the U.S. returned to a record high in 2022, with increases among middle-aged and older adults; public health agencies continue to track provisional 2023–2024 trends. CDC ABC News
Among women, rates are highest at ages 45–64 and rose from 2020 to 2022; overall female age-adjusted rates also increased from 2021 to 2022. CDC
Perimenopause is a recognized vulnerability window for suicidal ideation in some studies, underscoring the need for midlife-specific screening. PLOS MGH Women's Mental Health Center
Numbers don’t define anyone, but they do tell us where to look harder and offer help sooner.
Explore Related Reads
Choose Connection Over Silence
Depression in women often hides in plain sight, behind competence, caregiving, and a calendar full of obligations. If you’re struggling, you deserve care that sees the whole picture and responds quickly. And if you’re worried about a friend, your check-in might be the moment she needed.
We can help. Ask your Ms.Medicine provider about a same- or next-week mental health screening and care-navigation visit. And remember: support is always available. Call or text 988 anytime.
