You don’t need an advanced degree, license, or training to show up for and help another human being. We all have the ability to contribute to suicide prevention. Here are considerations and resources for anyone to use when communicating with someone who has expressed that they are contemplating suicide or feeling like they don’t have anything to live for.
- Remain calm. Communicating in a calm manner can help to deescalate a crisis situation.
- Keep it simple. Help the person to focus on the vitals: breathing, food, water, and heart rate.
- Validate their experience. Don’t try to fix anything.
- Don’t isolate them, sit with them.
- Advise them not to make any major life decisions at this time.
- Listen. Don’t dismiss, minimize, or diminish what a person says or is feeling. Take them seriously.
- Use community crisis intervention or law enforcement as a last resort not a first resort.
- Ask about access to firearms and ammunition. If the person has a loaded firearm, ask them to lock it up or give it to you if you are comfortable.?
- If they share they have access to other lethal means and the intent to use them, work together to remove the person from that environment or remove the means.
- Anyone can call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org
, the 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for themselves or if they are worried about someone who may need crisis support. Offer to do this together.
- Follow up! Check in, be open to feedback, and ask how you can be of support in the future. Not following up may send the message that you want to avoid them and could result in feelings of shame.
