Responding to Suicidal Warning Signs

Speak up if you are worried.

Talking to someone about his or her suicidal thoughts can be challenging but if you are unsure whether someone is going to kill him or herself, the best way to find out is to ask.

You might be worried that you will ‘put the idea of suicide into a person’s head’ if you ask about suicide. However, you cannot make a person suicidal by showing your concern. In fact, giving a suicidal person the opportunity to express his or her feelings can give relief from isolation and pent-up negative feelings, and may in fact reduce the risk of suicide.

How to start a conversation about suicide
  • “You haven’t seemed yourself lately and I’m worried about you.”
  • “I have noticed that you have been doing (X/Y/Z), and I’m wondering how you are going?”
Questions you can ask
  • “What can I do to help you?”
  • “I’d like to help you get through this, is there something I can do for you?”
What you can say that helps
  • “I want to help you and I am here for you when you want to talk.”
The following questions can be used to establish if the person may be suicidal:
  • Do you intend to take your life? (INTENTION)
  • Do you have a plan to take your life? (PLAN)
  • Do you have access to the means to carry out your plan? (MEANS)
  • Do you have a timeframe for taking your life? (TIMEFRAME)
Resource

Beyond Blue - https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
Phone - 1300 22 4636

Lifeline Australia - https://www.lifeline.org.au/
Phone - 13 11 14