What You Can Do If You Think Someone May Be Suicidal:

• Don't try to handle a suicidal person by yourself ~ call other friends or
family or a crisis hotline for support.


• Be direct. Talk openly and matter-of-factly about suicide. Ask the
person, "Are you thinking of killing yourself?" Don't lessen the reality
of the situation by using phrases like "ending it all" or "going to sleep."


• Listen to the person in crisis. Allow expressions of feelings,
including feelings about wanting to die. Accept the feelings, even
if they scare you. Let the person cry or scream if needed in order
to get their feelings out.


• Make a specific contract with the person to call you, a crisis line,
or some other person before they do anything to hurt or kill
themselves. If the person won't make such a promise,
it is not safe to leave them alone for any period of time.
Make sure someone stays close by the person (in the same
room, in visual contact) and get outside help immediately.


• Don't say things like "It's not so bad" or "Things will get better soon."
That invalidates the overwhelming feelings that the suicidal person is
having and can cause them to feel very alone. Instead, try to say things
like, "You feel so terrible right now that you can't see any way out other
than killing yourself." That lets the suicidal person know that you can
hear how desperate they feel.


• Don't be judgmental. Don't talk about whether suicide is right or
wrong, or feelings are good or bad. Don't talk about suicide in
judgmental terms, such as "doing something dumb."


• Get involved. Become available. Show interest and support.
Let the suicidal person know that you care about them.


• Don't underestimate a threat of suicide. We all want to believe that
a friend or loved one isn't at risk, but the fact is that people who
threaten to commit suicide often do. By the time friends and family
become aware of the suicidal thoughts, the risk of suicide is often
very high. Take the person seriously.


• Never dare the person to do it or tell the person that you don't think
that they would be able to do it.

• Do not deny or minimize the idea that the person is serious.


•Try not to act shocked. This will put distance between you and the
suicidal person, and they may feel like you can't understand. Show
them that you want to understand and that you are not going to turn
away or reject how they feel.


• Get support for yourself so that you will be able to support the
suicidal person. Don't agree that you will keep their thoughts of
suicide secret. Let them know that you will be there to love and
support them, and that you will need to get more support for both
of you. Don't try to handle a suicidal person by yourself. Bring in
other friends or family or call a crisis hotline for support.


• Try to find out how the person plans to kill himself or herself. If
they have a specific plan, the greater the risk Remove the method
if possible (pills or knife). Call the police if there is immediate danger
involved.


• Get help from experts. Call a crisis hotline (e.g Lifeline)


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