Helping A Loved One Who is Suicidal

If you encounter a person who is suicidal, you must act immediately.

Call 911 and get help on the way.
Never leave a suicidal individual alone.
If there is more than one individual with a suicidal individual, then the other person should remove drugs, weapons, and anything that the person may use to kill themselves from the premises.
If you think you can control the situation, take them to the nearest emergency room, but in most cases, you will want to leave this to professional first responders. Be cautious because the suicidal individual may act un-rationally.

Now Is The Time to Act

Even if there is a doubt in your mind, you need to take action immediately. Many police departments have specially trained officers who can begin the assessment process. All hospital emergency rooms have the resources to treat a suicidal individual. It is far better to act when you should not have than to not act and find out later that the individual committed suicide.

What Are Some Warning Signs of Suicide?

In America, one person commits suicide every 11 minutes. Warning signs include:
Dramatic mood shifts
Discussions of being a burden to others
Isolating themselves away from others
Overuse of alcohol and drugs
Posting distressing messages on social media
Reckless actions
Sleeping too much or too little
Statements indicating that they feel trapped without a way out
Reckless actions

What Can You Do to Help Prevent a Suicide Attempt?

If you think that someone you know may attempt suicide in the future, you need to be a great friend. Talk openly about how the individual is feeling, and do not be afraid to ask if the person has attempted suicide or may attempt it in the future.

Connect Them to Resources

Get them connected to caring professionals, like:
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK or 1-800-273-8255
• Crisis Text Line – Text talk to 741-741
• Lifeline Crisis Chat – https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/

Stay Connected

Make sure that you stay connected with them. There are outstanding programs that may be able to help you understand more about what your friend or loved one is going through, including:
• American Association of Suicidology
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• Befrienders Worldwide
• Covenant House (The 9 Line)
• Families for Depression Awareness
• Friendship Line for those over 60

Seek Help for Yourself

If you are a caregiver for a suicidal individual, then you must take care of yourself first and have the backup, mental well-being, energy, and resources you need. Without these, you cannot help another individual, regardless of how much you love them. Therefore, do not hesitate to seek our help for yourself in helping another person.