People with the highest risk of suicide are white men. But women and teens report more suicide attempts. If someone talks about suicide, take it seriously. Urge them to get help from their doctor or an emergency department. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). It is available 24/7.
Keep Them Safe from suicide
It is good for everyone to be on the same page. After the “Ask” step, and you determine suicide is being talked about, it is important to find out a few things to establish immediate safety.
These are the important questions:
Have they already done anything to try to kill themselves before talking with you?
Does the person experiencing thoughts of suicide know how they would kill themselves?
Do they have a specific, detailed plan?
What is the timing for their plan?
What sort of access to do they have to their planned method?
Knowing the answers to each of these questions can tell us a lot about the imminence and severity of danger the person is in.
The more steps and pieces of a plan are in place, the higher risk and capability to enact their plan. If they have access to a firearm, extra steps might be necessary. These steps include calling the authorities or driving them to an emergency department.
The Lifeline is always a resource during these moments as well if you are not sure what to do next.
The myth “If someone really wants to kill themselves, they’ll find a way to do it” often does not hold true if appropriate safety measures are put into place.
The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health notes that reducing a suicidal person’s access to highly lethal means (or chosen method) is an important part of suicide prevention.
A number of studies indicate that when lethal means are less available or less deadly, suicide rates by that method decline, and frequently rates overall decline. Research also shows “method substitution” or choosing an alternate method when the original method is restricted, frequently does not happen.
The Keep Them Safe step is showing support for someone during the times when they have these thoughts by putting time and distance between the person and their chosen method, especially methods that have shown higher lethality (like firearms and medications).
Therapy and medicines help most people who have suicidal thoughts. Treating mental illnesses and substance abuse reduces the risks.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.
1-800-273-8255