HOW YOU CAN HELP A SUICIDAL PERSON:

LISTEN a common complaint made by teens and adults is that they are not understood by others, not taken seriously and that no one listens to them.

ACCEPT the person’s feelings as they are. Do not try to cheer the person up by making positive, unrealistic statements.

DO NOT BE AFRAID to talk about suicide directly. You will not be putting ideas into the person’s head. Most of the time the person has already experienced suicidal feelings. It is dangerous practice to avoid asking a person directly if they are feeling suicidal.

INQUIRE if they have developed a plan of suicide. The presence of a well-developed plan indicates a more serious intent.

REMIND the person that feelings of depression do change with time.

EXPRESS your care for the person and your hope that he/she will not choose suicide but instead choose to stick it out a little longer.

POINT OUT that DEATH IS IRREVERSIBLE

DEVELOP A PLAN for helping the person. If you cannot develop a plan and a suicide attempt is imminent, seek outside emergency intervention at a hospital, mental health clinic, or call The Trevor Helpline at (866) 4U - TREVOR (488-7386).

POST The Trevor Helpline’s 24-hour crisis line number by your office and home phones.

IF IT’S NOT AN EMERGENCY and you just have a question to ask, call the The Trevor Helpline or submit your anonymous question to Dear Trevor, and a trained counselor will post the response.

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