Be the One to Talk about Suicide
Studies show that acknowledging suicide and being willing to talk about it to someone at-risk may reduce rather than increase suicidal ideation. Suicide prevention awareness month is a specific, dedicated time to bring increased emphasis and awareness to a subject that often is hesitantly talked about. Decreasing the stigma associated with suicide and mental health conditions by raising awareness, prevention and education is of life and death importance.
A February 2021 study by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports on average, 1 person in the U.S. dies by suicide every 11 minutes. In California, 4,491 lives were lost to suicide and 1,232,000 adults had thoughts of suicide in the last year.
Recognizing the warning signs and risk factors of suicide are important to be aware of such as:
Moments of crisis
Loss
Loneliness
Discrimination
A relationship break-up
Financial problems
Chronic illness
Violence
Talking about wanting to die or killing themselves
Looking for a way to kill themselves
Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
Talking about being a burden to others
Increased use of alcohol or drugs
Depression, anxiety or agitation
Behaving recklessly
Sleeping too little or too much
Withdrawing or isolating themselves
Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
Extreme mood swings
Previous suicide attempts.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline gives the following 5 steps everyone can take to prevent suicide through their #BeThe1To initiative:
1. BeThe1To: Ask
People experiencing suicidal feelings and emotional distress often feel relief when someone asks them in a caring, non-judgmental and supportive way,
Questions to ask:
Are you thinking about suicide?
How are you feeling?
How can I help?
Ask, then listen without judgment to the answers and reasons they give to being in emotional pain. Take them seriously, especially if they indicate they are experiencing thoughts of suicide and have intent, plans and means to do so. If you are personally experiencing warning signs, recognize what thoughts, images, moods, situations, and behaviors indicate to you that a crisis may be developing and then ask for help by a trusted person.
2. BeThe1To: Be there
It is important for the at-risk person to feel listened to. Being present either physically, on the phone and by text, when and where you can is important. Help them develop and increase their own coping strategies by listing things they can do on their own. Help them connect to support networks that will be effective sources of help to them such as listing people and social settings they can go to for support to help take their mind off of difficult thoughts and feelings and decrease their isolation and isolating behaviors. Explore reasons for living with them.
3. BeThe1To: Keep them safe
If they have thoughts of suicide, ask if they also have a specific, detailed plan or thought of how they would do it and then help limit their access to those means such as removing weapons or medications from their location. Establishing immediate safety is important. Ask if they have already done anything to try to kill themselves before talking with you such as taking medications, pills or alcohol or drug consumption. Help them develop a safety plan to help guide them and others when they are in crisis. The MY3 phone app is a good resource for this.
4. BeThe1To: Help them connect
Help the at risk person develop a safety plan, create a support system and network of resources in their community so they have others, not just you, to reach out to when in crisis for help. Great examples of this include professional therapists, family, friends, clergy and other resources such as those at the end of this article.
A study on the Impact of Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline found that individuals that called the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline were significantly more likely to feel less depressed, less suicidal, less overwhelmed, and more hopeful by the end of calls.
5. BeThe1To: Follow up
An important part of suicide prevention is supportive, ongoing contact and follow-up with the at risk person. Follow up with the person experiencing thoughts of suicide by visiting them or sending a text, leave a message or calling them. This is an opportunity to increase their feelings of connectedness and to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Resources
If you or someone you know is in crisis, there are options. You don’t have to deal with it on your own.
CALL: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-(800) 273-8255 (TALK).
TEXT: Crisis Text Line: Text “NAMI” to 741741.
Resources for Healthcare Professionals:
CALL: Safe Call Now 1-206-459-3020 or 1-877-230-6060 a confidential, comprehensive, 24-hour crisis referral service for all public safety employees, all emergency services personnel and their family members nationwide.
TEXT: Text “10-18” or “SCRUBS” to 741741. If you don’t want to talk on the phone, you can also text. Crisis Text Line offers free 24/7 mental health support
VIRTUAL support: There are several free, confidential and virtual support services available for frontline health care professionals. Find these and other excellent resources at: www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Frontline-Professionals
Resources for Trans Youth and Adults:
Trans Lifeline is a grassroots hotline offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis for the trans community, by the trans community.
@translifeline (877) 565-8860 translifeline.org
The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24.
@thetrevorproject (866) 488-7386 therevorproject.org
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender National Hotline provides a safe space that is anonymous and confidential, staffed by highly trained volunteers who identify somewhere on the LBGTQ spectrum; @lgbt_national_hotline
LGBT National Hotline (for all ages) 888-843-4564
LGBT Youth Hotline (For callers through age 25) 800-246-7743
LGBT Senior Hotline (For callers 50 and older) 888-234-7243
Resources for Veterans:
Are you a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one? The Confidential Military Crisis Line, text-messaging service, and online chat provides free VA support for all Service members, including members of the National Guard and Reserve, and all Veterans, even if they are not registered with VA or enrolled in VA health care and for their family members and friends.
CALL: 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 and/or TEXT: 838255
CHAT online: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help/chat
Roubicek & Thacker Counseling is Fresno’s premier provider of individual, couples, family, and group therapy. We offer in-person and online remote therapy sessions. Contact us today to change the way you feel.