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Mental Health News Articles
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| Posted: 7th August 2004 |
| How To Help Someone Who Is Suicidal |
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It’s 3:00 in the morning and you have just fallen asleep after studying for your exam. The telephone rings and your best friend is on the other end. Words that you never thought you’d hear come piercing across the line…"I just can’t do it anymore! The pain is too much to continue living…I know that I have got to end it – I must kill myself!" You instantly feel the adrenaline surge through your body. With trembling hands and sharpened senses, the question looms through your mind: "What do I say…what should I do!"
A suicidal crisis is very difficult to deal with. It is usually unanticipated and requires the helper to mobilize a variety of skills and resources. Following is a list of suggestions should you face the challenge of preventing a suicide attempt.
1. Encourage the person to discuss what prompted "death" thoughts. The more the person is able to talk about the specific details of the experience, the better he or she is able to understand the source of the crisis. Once a source is delineated, a course of action and intervention can be developed.
2. Elicit the person’s feelings. Expressing emotions is a way for the person to vent frustrations while securing validation and support. Common probes and statements include; "how did you feel when that happened" or "I would have felt hurt if that happened to me".
3. Use the term "suicide", "kill yourself", and "suicidal plan" when talking about the threat. Oftentimes, people contemplating suicide envision the process from a distorted perspective. It may be even seen as a ‘romanticized’ escape….a solution without notable consequences. Using these terms can bring the person into a sharper reality focus while enabling the helper to determine if a plan is in place. If the person has a reasonable plan to carry out the threat to end his or her life, the cry for help is more serious and warrants careful attention.
4. Assist the person in defining alternatives and options. |
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