You & Suicide Prevention

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You & Suicide Prevention

What You Can Do

1. Be aware. Learn the warning signs.
2. Get involved. Become available. Show interest and support.
3. Ask if he/she is thinking about suicide.
4. Be direct. Talk openly and freely about suicide.
5. Be willing to listen. Allow for expressions of feelings. Accept the feelings.
6. Be non-judgmental. Don’t debate whether suicide is right or wrong, or feelings are good or bad. Don’t lecture on the value of life.
7. Don’t dare him/her to do it.
8. Don’t give advice by making decisions for someone else to tell them to behave differently.
9. Don’t ask “why.” This encourages defensiveness.
10. Offer empathy, not sympathy.
11. Don’t act shocked. This creates distance.
12. Don’t be sworn to secrecy. Seek support.
13. Offer hope that alternatives are available, do not offer glib reassurance; it only proves you don’t understand.
14. Take action! Remove means! Get help from individuals or agencies specializing in crisis intervention and suicide prevention.

BE AWARE OF THE WARNING SIGNS

A suicidal person may:

· Talk about suicide, death, and/or no reason to live.
· Be preoccupied with death and dying.
· Withdraw from friends and/or social activities.
· Have a recent severe loss (especially relationship) or threat of a significant loss.
· Experience drastic changes in behavior.
· Lose interest in hobbies, work, school, etc.
· Prepare for death by making out a will (unexpectedly) and final arrangements.
· Give away prized possessions.
· Have attempted suicide before.
· Take unnecessary risks; be reckless, and/or impulsive.
· Lose interest in their personal appearance.
· Increase their use of alcohol or drugs.
· Express a sense of hopelessness.
· Be faced with a situation of humiliation or failure.
· Have a history of violence or hostility.
· Have been unwilling to “connect” with potential helpers.

BE AWARE OF FEELINGS, THOUGHTS, AND BEHAVIORS

Nearly everyone at some time in his or her life thinks about suicide. Most everyone decides to live because they come to realize that the crisis is temporary, but death in not. On the other hand, people in the midst of a crisis often perceive their dilemma as inescapable and feel an utter loss of control.

Frequently, they:

· Can’t stop the pain - If you know someone experiencing any of these feelings, get help!
· Can’t think clearly
· Can’t make decisions - If you know someone who exhibits these feelings, offer help!
· Can’t see any way out
· Can’t sleep eat or work
· Can’t get out of the depression
· Can’t make the sadness go away
· Can’t see the possibility of change
· Can’t see themselves as worthwhile
· Can’t get someone’s attention
· Can’t seem to get control

TALK TO SOMEONE -- YOU ARE NOT ALONE. CONTACT:

· A community mental health agency · A private therapist
· A school counselor or psychologist · A family physician
· A suicide prevention/crisis intervention center · A religious/spiritual leader

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