Public Spark

Part I and Part II was on warning signs of suicide. The last part of this series will be on how to help a suicidal person. These are some of the ways to help in no particular order.

• Be aware

  learn warning signs to understand what to look for

• Listen

  Let the person suffering tell you how they are feeling

• Be ready to accept their feeling

  Although you may not agree, it is important to provide support for them

• Do not be afraid to talk about suicide directly

  This will not make the person more suicidal. ON the contrary, it allows a safe environment to foster what is truly causing so much pain in the person.

• Ask them if they have developed a plan of suicide

  This is a way to identify risk of how suicidal the person is.

• Establish safety plan

  If at all possible establish safety by removing lethal means for suicide (including firearms, knives, prescription drugs, etc).

• Try to remind the person that depressed feelings do change with time.

• Express your concern for the person and your hope that the person will not choose suicide

• Don’t dare them to do it, don’t be shocked or judgmental

• Point out when death is chosen, it is irreversible

• Develop a plan for help with the person

• If you cannot develop a plan and a suicide attempt is imminent seek outside emergency intervention at the hospital, mental health clinic or call Suicide Prevention Center.

Professional resources:

• Call National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
  1-800-273- TALK (8255)

• Suicide Prevention Action Network USA

• Suicide Prevention Resource Center

Thank you for reading through the suicidal blog series. It is a difficult issue to read about, but with each reader and there will be more awareness to prevent suicide.