Tips for talking about and preventing suicide
Starting a conversation about suicide, even briefly, can make a meaningful difference. It can help someone feel seen, heard and supported enough to reach out for help. Here are some tips you can use if you鈥檙e concerned that a friend, roommate or classmate may be struggling or thinking about suicide.听
Know the warning signs听
There are sometimes subtle or more obvious signs that precede suicidal behaviors. Knowing potential warning signs and ways to intervene can dramatically reduce the risks of suicidal behaviors.听听
Here are some signs to watch out for:听
- Withdrawing from friends, family or peer groups听
- Neglecting their appearance or hygiene听
- Sudden changes in academic performance (like cutting class, missing assignments, etc.)听
Significant behavioral or emotional change听
- Acting recklessly or engaging in risky behaviors听
- Engaging in self-destructive behaviors听
- Increased substance use听听
Being unable to sleep or sleeping all the time (including in class)听
- Talking or writing about death, dying or suicide听
- Expressing feelings that life is meaningless or there is no reason to live听
- Feeling desperate or trapped, like there is no way out听
- Comments about being a burden on others听
- Feelings of hopelessness听
- Giving away possessions听
The above signs could indicate that someone is struggling and if you notice these comments or behaviors, there are things you can do to support the person who is struggling, as well as help them connect with resources.听
Share your concerns听
If you鈥檙e concerned about someone and feel comfortable talking with them, gently share what you鈥檝e noticed and your desire to help. Try to arrange a time to meet with them privately to discuss your concerns. It can be helpful to provide concrete examples of behaviors that you鈥檝e noticed. For instance, you may say 鈥淚鈥檝e noticed you鈥檝e been struggling to go to class recently鈥 or 鈥淚鈥檝e noticed that you haven鈥檛 been spending as much time with friends lately.鈥 Acknowledging their distress can help open the door for conversation.听
If you鈥檙e not sure how to approach someone or start the conversation, check out . This training is designed to help individuals assist someone experiencing mental health or substance use concerns or crises. Participants will learn about risk factors and warning signs, engage in experiential activities, discuss professional and self-help resources and practice a five-step strategy to provide support.听听听
If you鈥檙e not comfortable approaching someone with your concerns, consider filling out an online referral for Student Outreach, Advocacy & Support (SOAS). Their office can reach out to students to follow-up and provide additional support.听听
While SOAS is a supportive resource, it is not a crisis or emergency office鈥攍earn more about emergency and crisis care.听听
Ask the question听
When talking with a friend or peer, don鈥檛 be afraid to ask directly about suicide or self-harm. Contrary to what we may think, talking about suicide directly isn鈥檛 going to plant the idea in their head. If they have been thinking about suicide or self-harm, asking them about it can be a relief and an opportunity for them to talk about it more openly.听听
When you ask, express your care by saying something like 鈥淚鈥檓 asking because I care. Are you thinking about suicide?鈥 If they aren鈥檛, they鈥檒l let you know. Asking someone, even if they aren鈥檛 thinking about suicide, lets them know that it鈥檚 okay to talk about it in the future if things change. If they are thinking about suicide, it鈥檚 likely time to help them connect with resources on campus.听听
Remember that you don鈥檛 have to carry the weight of someone else鈥檚 mental health or suicidal thoughts. If a friend communicates that they are thinking about suicide, or if you are concerned for their mental health, you can call听Counseling & Psychiatric Services (CAPS)听any time for additional guidance and support.听CAPS can support students, families and faculty or staff if they are concerned about a student.听
Listen听
Listen without judgment and resist the urge to give them advice. It鈥檚 important to understand someone鈥檚 pain and what they鈥檙e experiencing. Keep in mind that suicidal thoughts are often short-term and specific to a situation. In many cases, they are an attempt to control or manage significant pain. When the pain subsides, the thoughts of suicide often lessen with it. However, understanding the source of someone鈥檚 pain can also help us better support them and connect them with resources.听听
Manage your emotions听
Talking about suicide can be nerve-racking, especially if someone says they have considered suicide. However, it鈥檚 important to manage your own emotions. When we project our own fears or anxieties, it can cause the other person to shut us out or become more distressed. Instead, try to reiterate your care and concern. Let them know that you are there for them and you want them to be okay. Remember that crisis resources are available to support you and your friend.听
Instill hope听
Let the person know that there are resources available to help them and things can get better. Don鈥檛 be afraid to call for help immediately if you鈥檙e worried about someone鈥檚 safety. Here are some on-campus resources that are available to help students who are struggling with mental health concerns or thoughts of suicide.听
Welfare checks听
Welfare checks should be considered when you are significantly worried about someone鈥檚 safety due to their recent behavior, or statements, and you or another friend or loved one are not able to contact them or ensure they are safe.听听
Welfare checks can be performed by any police department if you鈥檙e concerned about the health, safety or welfare of another person. Be prepared to give the exact address where the person is located (residence hall and room number if on campus) as well as the reason for your concerns.听
- On campus: CUPD 303-492-6666听
- Off campus: 抖阴传媒在线 Police 303-441-3333 or the person鈥檚 local police department听听
Depending on the police department, they may bring a mental health co-responder with them to help assist with the situation. It is highly recommended that you ask for a co-responder when you call for a welfare check. For example, CUPD and 抖阴传媒在线 Police both routinely have mental health co-responders assist with mental health related calls. The police and co-responder are not there to get anyone in trouble, but to make contact and ensure the person is safe and offer resources and support. They may help the person contact a friend or family member for support, and/or help them make a plan for care. While police and co-responders are there to help, it is also important to consider whether the police are the right intervention. Not everyone feels safer when the police are called.听听
Emergency/urgent resource听
If you need urgent or same-day support for yourself or a friend, Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) provides crisis support 24/7. Call 303-492-2277 to connect with a crisis counselor.听
Urgent resource听
Student Outreach, Advocacy & Support provides support for Buffs throughout their time at CU 抖阴传媒在线. They are here to help students identify issues and appropriate resources. They also work collaboratively with students to develop an action plan.听
If a student is struggling, Let鈥檚 Talk is a great way to get connected with support services. They can meet one-on-one with a CAPS counselor for a confidential consultation that can help them gain insight and connect with additional resources on campus.听
If a student is struggling, workshops are a great way for students to learn coping skills related to anxiety, stress and other painful emotions. Workshops are available throughout the week and are covered by the student mental health fee.听
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OVA provides free and confidential information, consultation, support, advocacy and short-term trauma-specific counseling services for students, grad students, faculty and staff who have experienced a traumatic, disturbing or life-disruptive events/incidents.听
WellTrack Boost is a free app that is available to all CU 抖阴传媒在线 students. It is designed to help you understand your mental health and to provide you with the help that you need online.听 This app address issues like stress, resiliency, anxiety and/or depression. WellTrack Boost is a self-guided and interactive way to manage your mental well-being.听