3 Suicide Prevention Tips
Spotting the warning signs is the first step to preventing suicide. You have to take some kind of action, the more serious a person is, the quicker you must take action. Below are 3 tips you can use and 2 hotlines you can call.
1. Speak up if you’re worried
If you spot the warning signs, you’ll want to talk to the person. I know, that might cause some apprehension for you. You could have questions running through your head such as: What if I’m wrong? What if they get angry? What if I put the idea in their head? There is only one question you should really be thinking about it though: What if I’m right? It’s better to find out before than regret after.
The best way to do it is, is to ask the person. You’ll be showing that you care and hopefully be able to open a dialogue, which can lead to a better outcome. It’s even possible that a person will be relieved because they didn’t know how to bring it up themselves. Here are a few questions you can ask:
• Have you ever thought that you’d be better off dead or that if you died, it wouldn’t matter?
• Have you thought about harming yourself?
• Are you thinking about suicide?
• What’s your opinion on suicide?
Just remember to show that you care and want to help. Don’t be too confronting and pushy, its all about love and support. However, if the risk is high, it may be necessary to respond more actively.
2. Respond quickly in a crisis
Those who are seriously thinking about or are starting to commit to suicide usually have a plan, a schedule, a means and the intention to do so. The higher the risk, the more immediate the response should be. The following basic questions and table will help you decide how high the risk might be:
• Do you have a suicide plan?
• Do you have what you need to carry out your plan (pills, gun, etc.)?
• Do you know when you would do it?
• Do you intend to commit suicide?
Level of Suicide Risk
Low — Some suicidal thoughts. No suicide plan. Says he or she won’t commit suicide.
Moderate — Suicidal thoughts. Vague plan that isn’t very lethal. Says he or she won’t commit suicide.
High — Suicidal thoughts. Specific plan that is highly lethal. Says he or she won’t commit suicide.
Severe — Suicidal thoughts. Specific plan that is highly lethal. Says he or she will commit suicide.
Source: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/suicide_prevention.htm
3. Offer loving help and support
Show the person you care, that you love them and that you are there for them. Tell them they are not alone. It’s important to realize that no matter what you do, you can’t make a suicidal person better. You can only give them the help, love and perception they need to choose to live on. I know this is really hard, but don’t feel responsible for the outcome. He or she needs to make a personal commitment, one that you can’t make for them. Make sure you also receive support. Being there for a suicidal person can take its toll. You also need to be able to talk about it, especially to better help your loved one.
When offering love and support, make sure you listen without judgment. It’s about listening and understanding, not lecturing. Remind yourself that they may see the world differently than you. It’s your job to understand the how and why and how you can help with that. Give them hope, remind them of the options they have. That you’re there for them, that there are people out there who know how to help them. Don’t tell them to suck it up or that their feelings aren’t real.
Do not promise not to tell. You may need to talk to a mental health professional or someone else. They may want to keep it secret, but that secret is not as valuable as their life. That doesn’t mean you need to tell the whole neighborhood though. You’ll also want to seek out professional help. You can always call the hotlines at the bottom of this post. Another option is your local mental health facility.
Finally, you need to develop a Plan for Life. This is a plan containing the steps they have to promise to take during a crisis. It should contain the phone numbers of their doctor, family members and friend and anyone else deemed important and capable to help.
Suicide hotlines to call for help:
If you or someone you care about is suicidal, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or the National Hopeline Network at 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433).
These toll-free crisis hotlines offer 24-hour suicide prevention and support. Your call is free and confidential.
take care,
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