5 Positive Ways To Communicate With A Suicidal Loved One
The month of September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, which is a time to raise awareness and to de-stigmatize this topic. In too many households around the world, suicide is viewed as a taboo subject, so those who are in their lowest moments keep those feelings bottled deep down inside of themselves.
As friends, colleagues, or family members, it is our duty to have open and honest conversations about suicide prevention with our loved ones. One conversation can change someone’s life.
Here are a few ways in which you can approach having conversations about suicide prevention:
Ask & Listen
Don’t be afraid to ask someone if they are having thoughts of suicide. Crossing that bridge and showing someone that you are not only open to talking about suicide, but are also willing to talk about it in a non-judgmental manner is huge for building trust. Being direct, but also staying unbiased will allow for effective conversations to take place, because both parties are allowed to be honest with one another. Take their answers seriously, listen to their reasoning, and be sure to point out their own personal desire to live. Don’t impose your own reasons for them to live onto them, let them discover their own through dialogue.
Be Present
Having someone in their corner can have a major impact on someone’s willingness to live. Be supportive in a way that is both helpful to them, but is also sustainable for you in the long run. You never want to make someone a promise that you can’t keep, especially when they are having thoughts of suicide. By being there for someone, you are limiting their isolation and allowing them to feel connected to you. This will aid them in realizing that they do belong here with you and the many other things that they cherish.
Keep Them Safe
You have to limit the access that someone who is suicidal has to objects or places where they can act on their desire to commit suicide. If they already have a detailed plan for how they will commit the act, then their need for professional help is imperative. Make sure that you are utilizing suicide prevention resources, like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, in order to give your loved one the help the immediate help that they need.
Help Them Connect
The best way to help someone who is in a suicidal crisis is to connect them to professionals. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800) 273-8255 is a great tool to connect those in need to professionals who are trained and adept at aiding anyone who is on the verge of committing suicide. Mental health professionals can also help people deal with thoughts of suicide. Bring awareness to the many different resources that they have at their disposal.
Follow Up
Check up on your loved one consistently and ask them how they are doing. Give them a call, send them a text, or visit them. By doing these steps, you are showing them that you genuinely support them and that you are invested in them. Small actions can go a long way in showing someone how loved they truly are. Sometimes, that one small act of kindness is all it takes.