Don’t leave the person alone. Listen to them. Talk to them. Reassure the person that they will feel happier again.
Ask "Are you thinking of suicide?" (or "Are you thinking of harming yourself?")
You will not be "putting ideas into their head". If a person is suicidal they will generally answer the question honestly.
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Ask: "Do you have a plan? How would you do it?" This can help you to clarify how serious and advanced
the person's planning is. The more concrete and detailed the plan, the more serious the risk.
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Affirm the person. Try to make them feel like they are valued and worthwhile.
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Affirm the problem. Indicate to the person that you recognise their concerns and
that these concerns are important to them.
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Present alternatives and provide different perspectives. Avoid lecturing.
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Believe the person.
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Be calm and understanding. Avoid sounding shocked.
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Spend time with the person. Don't leave them alone until they are relatively calm and
you have established an agreement with them that they will not harm themselves, at least in the short term.
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Listen carefully. Ask meaningful questions about how they are feeling and what they are
thinking. Do not be dismissive. Avoid telling them to "snap out of it", or saying "you’ll get over it." It is affirming to
know that someone understands just how difficult and challenging life can be.
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Attempt to reduce the risk of the person hurting themselves, or assist with making a safety
plan.
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Encourage the person to get additional help, such as from a youth worker, counsellor, doctor,
psychologist or psychiatrist.
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If the person does not want to seek help, you can call a mental health professional and
ask for some advice.
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Confidentiality can be an issue for some young people. Some people may be fearful of their
parents knowing of the situation. Reassure the person that their parents do need to know and that they will
be supportive. Never agree to keep the situation a secret. Health Professionals and supportive networks also
need to be aware of the situation.
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Look after yourself.
When someone you know tells you that they may not want to live any more it can be very distressing. You may need
to talk to someone in a confidential situation such as a responsible adult, youth worker, counselor, doctor
or psychologist.
