Acknowledge what the person is experiencing; acknowledge their fear, sadness or despair. Use whatever techniques you feel comfortable with to make them feel valued and worthwhile.
Acknowledge the problem that the person’s facing. Recognise their concern rather than
passing over the problem or trying to make it seem small and insignificant. Provide them with
reassurance without dismissing the problem.
Suggest alternative solutions and try to help them see the problem in a new light. Try to
avoid sounding like you’re lecturing or preaching to them.
Believe the person and take their concerns seriously.
Be calm and understanding - try not to appear shocked or alarmed by anything the person tells you.
Show that you’re concerned by listening carefully and asking questions to find out more about what the person’s thinking and feeling.
Ask them directly if they’re thinking about suicide. This can be really hard to do but it
shows them that you care. If they say yes, don’t make promises about keeping it secret.
Suggest that they should get professional help as soon as possible. Help them make an
appointment with a doctor, counsellor or psychologist and perhaps go along with them to
help them feel more comfortable.
If they’re in immediate danger of harming themselves, someone should stay with them till
they’re out of danger. This doesn’t have to be you, but it should be someone you trust to get
the help which is needed.
If the person refuses help or isn’t able to get it for themselves, it’s important that you talk to a health or welfare professional for advice on the situation. You should let the parents of the person know what’s going on, unless it’s an emergency and you have to act straight away.
If you’re caring for a person who’s suicidal over long periods of time, make sure you look after yourself as well. Make sure you take time out to do things you enjoy and talk the problem through with an adult you trust. We’ve included some numbers for phone lines you can call if you want to talk or if you need advice, below.
Need help now?
If you or someone you know is in need of urgent help, Ybblue recommends that you consult your doctor, the emergency department of your local hospital or a mental health professional (such as a psychologist or psychiatrist).
For immediate help in a crisis situation, ring the police or ambulance service on 000 and clearly tell the operator that someone’s life is in danger.
Phone Helplines
Whether it’s you or someone else that needs help, you can also phone Lifeline to speak to trained counsellors. Sometimes these lines get a lot of calls all at once, so it’s important that if you do not get through on your first try, that you continue trying until you do.
Lifeline
Phone: 131 114
Website: www.lifeline.org.au
Lifeline is a 24-hour telephone counselling service where you can talk to someone about a wide range of problems. If you live in a rural area, you can find out what mental health services are available by calling Lifeline’s Just Ask information line on 1300 131 114 or check out their database at www.justlook.org.au.
Home