Crisis Support

Crisis can look different for everyone and may be brought on by a variety of reasons. People who recently experienced a painful event, loss of a loved one, or a major life change (such as a terminal medical diagnosis, divorce, etc) are at a higher risk of experiencing mental health crisis. Here are some warning signs that you or someone you know may be in crisis:

• Talking about suicide or wanting to die

• Wanting to give up or experiencing thoughts such as there is no reason to live

• Depression symptoms such as feeling sad or hopeless for several weeks

• Risk-taking behavior (such as drug and alcohol use, running away, impulsive decisions, etc)

• Changes in sleeping or eating

• Isolating from friends and family

• Not engaging in activities that previously brought joy

• Planning behaviors (giving away favorite things, writing a goodbye letter, poems or drawings that deal with death or dying, etc)

If you're concerned that a friend or classmate may be considering suicide, take action.

1. Ask the person directly about his or her feelings, even though it may be awkward.

2. Listen to what the person has to say, and take it seriously. Just talking to someone who really cares can make a big difference.

3. Share your concerns with a trusted adult such as your parent/ guardian, a teacher, social worker, or counselor.

It may be hard to tell whether a friend or classmate is suicidal, and you may be afraid of taking action and being wrong. If someone's behavior or talk makes you think they might be suicidal, the person may be struggling with some major issues, even if not considering suicide at the moment.

If a friend or loved one is thinking about suicide, they need professional help, even if suicide isn't an immediate danger. Here's what you can do:

• Encourage the person to reach out to one of the crisis numbers listed above.

• Encourage the person to seek treatment. A suicidal or severely depressed person may not have the energy or motivation to find help. If the person doesn't want to consult a doctor or mental health provider, suggest finding help from a support group, crisis center, faith community, teacher or other trusted person. You can offer support and advice — but remember that it's not your job to substitute for a mental health provider.

• Offer to help the person take steps to get assistance and support. For example, you can research treatment options, make phone calls, or even offer to go with the person to an appointment.

• Encourage the person to communicate with you. Someone who's suicidal may be tempted to bottle up feelings because they feel ashamed, guilty or embarrassed. Be supportive and understanding, and express your opinions without placing blame. Listen attentively and avoid interrupting.

• Be respectful and acknowledge the person's feelings. Don't try to talk the person out of their feelings or express shock. Remember, even though someone who's suicidal isn't thinking logically, the emotions are real. Not respecting how the person feels can shut down communication.

• Ask questions. Such as, "What's causing you to feel so bad?" "What would make you feel better?" or "How can I help?" Don't tell someone, "Things could be worse" or "You have everything to live for."

• Never promise to keep someone's suicidal feelings a secret. Be understanding, but explain that you may not be able to keep such a promise if you think the person's life is in danger. At that point, you have to get help.

• Offer reassurance that things can get better. When someone is suicidal, it seems as if nothing will make things better. Reassure the person that with appropriate treatment, they can develop other ways to cope and can feel better about life again.

• Encourage the person to avoid alcohol and drug use. Using drugs or alcohol may seem to ease the painful feelings, but ultimately it makes things worse — it can lead to reckless behavior or feeling more depressed. If the person can't quit on their own, offer to help find treatment.

• Remove potentially dangerous items, if possible. If you can, make sure the person doesn't have items around that could be used for suicide — such as knives, razors, guns or drugs. If the person takes a medication that could be used for overdose, encourage them to have someone safeguard it and give it as prescribed.

Source: Mayo Clinic, 2018