Working With Suicidal People

• If in doubt, ask questions. 

• Try to establish a relationship with the person thinking of suicide.

• Be accepting and nonjudgmental.

• Be confident that the person does not have to die by suicide, at least for today.

• Remove the suicidal person’s access to the means of ending his or her life (e.g., get rid of guns, pills, razors, etc.).  Just getting in the way of "Plan A" will thwart many suicides.

• Help the person buy time to stay alive.

• Assess the person’s resources. 

  	Who matters that the person lives?  Mother?  Father?  Brother?  Priest? Minister? Teacher? Coach?
  	Can this person help now?
  	If yes, then get the help you need to build a wall  of support around the suicidal person.

• Always take a positive approach, but don’t make trivial that which the person is prepared to die for.

• Get help - as much for yourself as for the suicidal person.

• Don’t sound shocked, dismayed or frightened.  (There’s no point in two of you being discouraged.)

• Don’t ignore the person’s threats or statements that they wish to die.  Even if they don’t really mean what    they’re saying, can either of you afford to pretend?

• Don’t focus on the shock, embarrassment or suffering the family or loved one will endure if they die, unless  you are sure that isn’t exactly what the person wants.

• Don’t get into a debate on the merits of living or dying.

• Never put yourself at risk of injury (taking a gun or knife away) unless you are highly trained in this area.

Remember, if you feel someone you know may be thinking about suicide, go ahead and ask.  If they weren’t thinking of suicide, the worst they can do is be a little offended that you would think them capable of such an act; but, if they were thinking of suicide, they will be forever grateful.