What to Do if You Think a Person is Having Suicidal Thoughts

What do you do if you think a person is having suicidal thoughts?

(Information provided by the National Suicide Prevention LifeLine)
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

You cannot predict death by suicide, but you can identify people who are at increased risk for suicidal behavior, take precautions, and refer them for effective treatment.

ASK – Ask the person directly if he or she is having suicidal thoughts/ideas, has a plan to do so, and has access to lethal means:

• “Are you thinking about killing yourself?”
• “Have you ever tried to hurt yourself before?”
• “Do you think you might try to hurt yourself today?”
• “Have you thought of ways that you might hurt yourself?”
• “Do you have pills/weapons in the house?”

 Ø     This won’t increase the person’s suicidal thoughts. It will give you information that indicates how strongly the person has thought about killing him or herself.

Ø     Take seriously all suicide threats and all suicide attempts. A past history of suicide attempts is one of the strongest risk factors for death by suicide.

Ø     There is no evidence that “no-suicide contracts” prevent suicide. In fact, they may give counselors a false sense of reassurance.

 LISTEN AND LOOK – Listen and look for red flags for suicidal behavior, indicated by the mnemonic: 

IS THE PATH WARM? 

Ideation – Threatened or communicated

Substance abuse – Excessive or increased

Purposeless – No reasons for living

Anxiety – Agitation/Insomnia

Trapped – Felling there is no way out

Hopelessness

Withdrawing – From friends, family, society

Anger (uncontrolled) – Rage, seeking revenge

Recklessness – Risky acts, unthinking

Mood changes (dramatic)

ACT –

• If you think the person might harm him or herself, do not leave the person alone.
• Say, “I’m going to get you some help.”
• Call the National Suicide Prevention LifeLine, 1-800-273-TALK. You will be connected to the nearest available crisis center. OR…
• Got to SAMHSA’s Mental Health Services Locator (www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/databases/) or Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator (http://dasis3.samhsa.gov/).