Suicide Prevention

You don’t have to be a mental health professional to help someone who is feeling suicidal; you just need to be able to listen. Asking directly about suicide is the right thing to do if you are worried about someone.

Many people fear talking directly about suicide in case they “give the person the idea”, but there is no evidence that talking about suicide can be harmful – quite the opposite in fact. For many people it can be a huge relief to be asked the question in a direct way.

It is a myth that people who talk about suicide are unlikely to go through with the act. Anyone who talks or writes about taking their own life should be taken seriously. Never assume that a person who has spoken about suicidal thoughts before and not acted on those thoughts won’t do so this time.

Suicide is and can be a stigmatised subject, language is important i.e. ensuring we don't say things like 'commit' suicide.

We hope you will find this guidance helpful, in addition please remember to contact SSAFA's Principal Safeguarding Officer, Suzanne Cornford, to report the safeguarding concern, and if you have had to notify the emergency services of the suicide plan or attempt. This is so as an organisation we can monitor our safeguarding activities and ensure that you get the support you need after dealing with these situations. You can also contact our Mental Health and Wellbeing Manager, Stuart Irons for support.

SSAFA contact details:

Principal Safeguarding Officer, Suzanne Cornford - Suzanne.cornford@ssafa.org.uk

Mental Health and Wellbeing Manager, Stuart Irons - stuart.irons@ssafa.org.uk    

Not everyone who thinks about suicide will tell someone, and there are some people who give no indication at all of their intention. However, there are warning signs that we can all look out for. These include, if a person is:

• Talking or writing about death, dying or suicide. 
• Actively looking for ways to kill themselves. 
• Talking about feeling hopeless, or of having no reason to live. 
• Talking about being a burden to others. 
• Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain. 
• Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs.
• Suddenly very much ‘recovered’ after a period of depression. 
• Visiting or calling people unexpectedly to say goodbye either directly or indirectly. 
• Making arrangements; setting their affairs in order. 
• Giving things away, such as prized possessions.

The best way to help is to ask questions. That way you leave the other person in control. By asking questions, the person you are talking with finds his or her own answers.

Why is it important to ask?

If someone is suicidal, they are likely to be feeling:

• Cut off from everyone around them
• Scared or frightened about wanting to die
• Desperate for support but too scared to ask

Common fears

Would talking about suicide put the idea more into their thoughts? 

No. if a person is suicidal, the thought is already in their mind. If they are not suicidal, it won't do them any harm.

What if you say the wrong thing? Could it damage your rapport with them?

Showing you listen and care for them will not damage your connection; saying nothing could result in losing them.