What Can be Done?
- If someone tells you they are thinking about suicide, you should take their distress seriously, listen non-judgmentally, and help them get to a professional such as a GP, for evaluation and treatment.
- People consider suicide when they are hopeless and unable to see alternative solutions to problems. Suicidal behaviour is sometimes related to a mental illness such as depression, or to alcohol or other substance abuse. Suicidal behaviour is also more likely to occur when people experience stressful events (major losses, incarceration).
- Be aware of and identify the WARNING SIGNS or indicators of 'risk' in those around us (See Risk Factors for Suicidal Behaviour)
- The early identification and appropriate treatment of suicidal behaviours and mental disorders is crucial in the fight against suicide.
- If you can see signs that someone is distressed, not thinking rationally, resorting to drugs and alcohol to solve problems, behaves aggressively, violently or inconsistently, then ask what is wrong or let someone else know that you are concerned about them.
- If people do not have KNOWLEDGE about what the signs are, then we can not help those at risk; we cannot be certain of when someone may take their own life.
- Encourage people to seek help for their problems. Make people feel like it's okay to ask for help by:
- Showing them that you also ask for help yourself when you are in trouble/distress;
- Accompanying the person to a GP or a counsellor, or by assisting the person to make a phone call to Lifeline, Kids Helpline etc.
- Increase social support for those around us - family, friends, workmates, neighbours, etc. Social connectedness helps to reduce isolation and loneliness and they feel that there is 'nowhere to turn for help'. Because there IS HELP around. We have to make it 'easy' to seek help.
- Decrease the STIGMA associated with suicidal behaviour by discussing the FACTS about suicide and dispelling the MYTHS. (See Myths and Facts of Suicidal Behaviour).
