Depression Suicide Suicide Pact: Causes, Motivations, Effects By Arlin Cuncic, MA Arlin Cuncic, MA Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of "Therapy in Focus: What to Expect from CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder" and "7 Weeks to Reduce Anxiety." She has a Master's degree in psychology. Learn about our editorial process Updated on June 26, 2023 Learn more." data-inline-tooltip="true"> Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Steven Gans, MD Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Bymuratdeniz / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents History Signs Types Why Do People Enter Into Suicide Pacts? Who Is Most Likely to Be Involved in a Suicide Pact? Impact How to Prevent Suicide Pacts Crisis Support This article may be triggering to some readers. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. 988 A suicide pact is an agreement between two or more individuals to die by suicide together. Such pacts may be planned in detail, with each person knowing what role they will play and how the suicide will be carried out. Those involved in a suicide pact typically have a shared desire to die and see death as a way to escape from some type of pain or problem in their lives that is perceived as unbearable or hopeless. Oftentimes, people who enter into suicide pacts have suicidal ideation prior to making the pact. This means that they have been thinking about harming themselves before entering into an agreement with others. This article will cover a brief history of suicide pacts, why they occur, and the aftereffects. History of Suicide Pacts The history of suicide pacts is relatively short, as the phenomenon is not particularly common. However, there have been a number of notable cases that have made headlines over the years. Couple's Suicide Pacts In 2010, a couple from Wiltshire, England jumped to their deaths from the cliffs at Beachy Head after making a pact to do so. In 2020, an elderly couple in India died by suicide as part of a pact after experiencing physical illness and strain due to COVID-19. A case study was published in 2022 that discussed the suicide attempt of a couple dealing the financial struggles as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This case study noted that suicidality increased as a result of the pandemic because it led to financial stress for many along with fears of infection or not being able to return home to family members who are living in another country. Warning Signs of a Suicide Pact There are a few warning signs that may indicate that someone is considering entering into a suicide pact. These include talking about wanting to die or hurt oneself, expressing feelings of hopelessness, giving away prized possessions, and making final arrangements (such as putting affairs in order or writing a will). Types of Suicide Pacts There are two types of suicide pacts that have been reported: suicide pacts where both parties die by self-harm or where assisted suicide is involved). Suicide pact where all parties die from self-harm: The parties involved may use a weapon to carry out the suicide or they may use a passive method such as self-poisoning.Suicide pacts that involve an assisted suicide: In this method, person A will assist in the suicide of the other party, person B. After receiving consent from person B, person A will then kill person B. Then person A will die by suicide via self-harm. Why Do People Die By Suicide? Why Do People Enter Into Suicide Pacts? People often enter into suicide pacts as a way to escape from some type of pain or problem in their lives that seems intolerable including: DepressionRelationship problemsFinancial difficultiesEvictionA crisis that occurs within two weeks of carrying out the suicide pactPhysical health issuesJob lossTrouble with the legal system It is also worth noting that suicide pacts are often seen as a way to die together with someone else. In some cases, people may enter into such pacts because they cannot bear the thought of living without the other person. For instance, the couple from the case study discussed earlier, it was noted that one party expressed no desire to live without their partner. Who Is Most Likely to Be Involved in a Suicide Pact? Within a couple involving a male and a female, the male (who is often the dominant partner) is more likely to take the life of their partner and then die by self-harm. The male in this scenario is more likely to have an undiagnosed mental health condition such as borderline personality disorder or narcissistic personality disorder. The submissive partner (typically the woman in a heterosexual relationship), will show more dependent traits. Additionally, women are more likely than men to die by suicide involved in a passive method such as self-poisoning with carbon monoxide. Impact of Suicide Pacts Suicide pacts can have a profound impact on those who are left behind. In addition to the obvious emotional pain of losing a loved one, survivors may also feel guilty, responsible, or confused. It is important for those who are impacted by suicide pacts to seek professional help in order to deal with their feelings and begin the healing process. Grief for loved ones following a suicide pact can be heightened because of the loss of two or more people at the same time. How to Prevent Suicide Pacts There are a few steps that can be taken in order to prevent suicide pacts: Support for those dealing with physical ailments: Considering one of the causes of suicidality can be health problems, it's important for healthcare professionals to refer patients to mental health professionals to help them cope with living with a physical ailment.Stricter gun control: Limiting access to firearms can help prevent suicidality.Routine mental health screening: Approximately, 1 in 5 U.S. adults have been diagnosed with depression in their lifetime according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since depression is a significant risk factor for suicide, if regular mental health check-ups are implemented, health professionals may be able to catch suicide warning signs early on. How Suicidal Feelings Manifest in Young Men—Including Myself 10 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Prat S, Rérolle C, Saint-Martin P. Suicide pacts: six cases and literature review. J Forensic Sci. 2013;58(4):1092-1098. doi:10.1111/1556-4029.12056 Sikary AK, Swain R, Dhaka S, Gupta SK, Yadav A. Jumping Together: A Fatal Suicide Pact. J Forensic Sci. 2016;61(6):1686-1688. doi:10.1111/1556-4029.13193 BBC News. Deaths of cliff jump pair suicide. Griffiths MD, Mamun MA. COVID-19 suicidal behavior among couples and suicide pacts: Case study evidence from press reports. Psychiatry Res. 2020 Jul;289:113105. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113105. Epub 2020 May 16. PMID: 32425277; PMCID: PMC7229970. Nardi B, Del Prete L, Amatori G, et al. An attempted "suicide pact" in Covid-19 era - psychiatric perspectives. BMC Psychiatry. 2022;22(1):686. Published 2022 Nov 4. doi:10.1186/s12888-022-04333-z National Institute of Mental Health. Warning Signs of Suicide. Kim KV, Russell C, Kaplan MS, Rehm J, Lange S. Types of suicide pacts: a comparative analysis using the National Violent Death Reporting System. Front Psychiatry. 2023;14:1139305. Published 2023 May 5. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1139305 Goulah-Pabst DM. Suicide Loss Survivors: Navigating Social Stigma and Threats to Social Bonds [published online ahead of print, 2021 Jul 4]. Omega (Westport). 2021;302228211026513. doi:10.1177/00302228211026513 Ashley J, Kim KV, Russell C, Lange S. A comparative analysis of solitary suicides, suicides following homicide, and suicide pacts using the National Violent Death Reporting System. BMC Psychiatry. 2023. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National, State-Level, and County-Level Prevalence Estimates of Adults Aged ≥18 Years Self-Reporting a Lifetime Diagnosis of Depression — United States, 2020. By Arlin Cuncic, MA Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of "Therapy in Focus: What to Expect from CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder" and "7 Weeks to Reduce Anxiety." She has a Master's degree in psychology. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit