How to help someone who may be suicidal:

• Be sensitive and attentive, listen.
• Show unconditional love and acceptance.
• Use words of encouragement and comfort.
• Do not argue or agree with distorted views.
• Try to encourage young people to not making any hasty decisions; their judgment may be distorted.
• Encourage teen to eat right.
• Encourage teen to seek help from others.
• Encourage teen to avoid being alone.
• Ask if they are thinking about harming or killing themselves.
• Try to get them to promiise you that they will not attempt suicide until they tell a Doctor or Counsellor how they are feeling.
• Show you care by asking questions like, "when do you most feel depressed? What do you do when you feel depressed? Do you spend a lot of time alone? is there anyone you feel you can trust to talk to?"
• Refer the teen to a counsellor in their school or community. If there is a crisis, obtain personal information from the person like their address and get outside help.
• Offer prayer support.
• Call us within Alberta at 1-(877)-803-8336 or 1-(780)-428-TEEN (8336).
• If they have already attempted suicide, then call 911.

Ask the QUESTION

Try to find out how long the youth has been depressed and how their life has been changed. The way of life for us such as eating, sleeping and concentrating, which at times we take for granted, become disrupted for these individuals, so be sure to ask, "Are you feeling suicidal?".

Believe it.

Accept the possibility that the person may be suicidal. Do not assume that he/she isn't the "type" or that he/she wouldn't really do it. If his/her feelings are strong enough to talk about suicide, there is no doubt that he/she should be taken seriously. It is better to be incorrect and have the individual alive, than to have been wrong and have the person dead.

Talk freely.

Ask the individual questions about his/her feelings. The more information you have, the more help you will be able to give. By talking about their feelings, he/she has opened lines of communication that may not easily be opened again. By talking freely, the individual will recognize the effort that you as the friend are making to find out what the situation is.

Your willingness to talk this way can be a big relief to your friend, who had no idea what your reaction would be. Your acceptance will give him/her hope and a feeling of refuge at a time when he/she needs it most. Some people when confronted by a suicide, often respond with "Think how much better off you are than most people, you should be thankful for how lucky you are." This will end the conversation and make the person who is already feeling guilty about their suicidal thoughts, feel more guilty.

In determining the suicide risk, asking if the individual has a suicide plan and its details, asking if there has been previous suicide attempts and determining this persons viable resources such as close family or friends that they can turn to, will assist in the determining the seriousness of the crisis.

Get help.

It is important that when the signs of suicide exist, professional help is sought and can be found through various avenues (e.g. Counsellor, Crisis Response Team, Clergyman, Mental Health Clinic, Physician, or other qualified mental health professional, hospital emergency room, outpatient clinic). If the suicidal person refuses to get professional help, explain the situation to a reliable member of his/her family or take the initiative yourself by calling the Teen Support Line.

If the danger of suicide seems immediate, do not leave him/her alone. The information you have gathered by talking with your friend will help the crisis worker counsel you in dealing with the situation and in suggesting a specific course of action

It is important that you as a friend also have a support system or help to back you up in the crisis situation. Suicide Prevention is not difficult to achieve. It requires the concern of a friend, the knowledge to recognize the signs of danger, willingness to talk openly, and the initiative to ensure that professional help is obtained. More importantly, it requires that old attitudes of treating suicide as taboo give way to the acceptance of suicide as a problem that can be dealt with.