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Suicide Prevention and Education

 

What You Need to Know 

The latest report from the National Institute of Mental Health indicates that millions of people around the U.S. think about suicide each year.

What Leads to Suicide? "There is no one single cause. Suicide most often occurs when stressors and health issues converge to create an experience of hopelessness and despair." -American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

If you or someone you know has been considering suicide, this page has information and resources that can help.

We care about you and your mental health.

 

How to Help Someone at Risk for Suicide

How to Help Someone Who Is Having Thoughts of Suicide – SAVE

Help Someone Else : Lifeline (suicidepreventionlifeline.org)

When a Friend Is Feeling Suicidal (verywellmind.com)

Helping a Loved One Who is Suicidal: SAMHSA_Toolkit_3182121

Conversation Examples

Here are a few examples of compassionate statements:

“I’m so sorry you’re going through this.” This statement shows that you care for and empathize with them.

“Can I bring you dinner? Would you like it if I came over?” Instead of asking if there’s anything you can do, think of a couple specific things that you could do to support them.

"You mean so much to me. I can’t imagine life without you.” Take a moment to let your friend know just how much you love and care for them. You might even remind them of a funny or heartwarming memory.

“I know that you’re in pain.” Again, validate how your friend is feeling and reiterate to them that you are there to help.

After listening to your friend, you can be more direct by asking the following questions:

Do you think about hurting yourself?

Do you think about dying?

Do you think your friends and family would be better off without you?

If they answer yes to any of these questions, then follow up with these questions:

Do you have a plan?

Do you have the means to carry out that plan?

If your friend answers no to these questions, encourage them to seek help from a counselor or therapist. You can offer to help them find resources.

If your friend answers yes to either of these questions, they could be actively suicidal. Seek help immediately by contacting their therapist if they have one, taking them to a hospital for an evaluation, or calling 911.

Assisting a suicidal individual, especially a family member or friend, is challenging; remember to take care of yourself!

Adapted from My Friend Is Suicidal: What Should I Do? | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness

Additional Suicide Prevention Training Opportunities

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)—2 days
ASIST » LivingWorks Education

Suicide Alertness for Everyone (safeTalk)—4 hours
SafeTalk Suicide Prevention Course | LivingWorks

S.A.V.E.: VA Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training—1-2 hours
VA S.A.V.E. Training

Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) for Suicide Prevention—1.5 hours
Suicide Prevention Classes - NAMI Minnesota (namimn.org)

Emergency Resources

If you are currently in a life-threatening situation or your safety is at risk, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or visit your nearest emergency room.

Education

A Simple Conversation Can Help Save a Life

Knowing the signs of suicide is important in helping someone who may be at risk. By offering your understanding, reassurance, and support, you can help your loved one or friend seek the help they need. Empower yourself to recognize and help those who are struggling by becoming more informed and prepared through our various training opportunities.

Mental Health First Aid is the help offered to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The first aid is given until appropriate treatment and support are received or until the crisis resolves. Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour certification course that gives you the skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.

Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a physical health problem, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis.

In the Mental Health First Aid course, you learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and substance use concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help.

Topics covered include Depression, Anxiety, Suicide Prevention, Non-Suicidal Self-Injury, Substance Use Disorders, and Crisis Intervention.

For more immediate information on risk factors and warning signs, please refer to the “How to Help Someone at Risk for Suicide” section of this page.

In Mental Health First Aid training, you will learn a 5-step action plan to help students, loved ones, colleagues, neighbors and others cope with mental health or substance use problems.

Contact:

Frances Bland: frances.bland@normandale.edu

Kristen Cooper: kristen.cooper@normandale.edu 

Valerie Dean: valerie.dean@normandale.edu

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