Breaking the Silence: How to Talk About Suicide
As someone who has personally struggled with suicidal thoughts and knows several friends and family who have as well, I've become acutely aware of the increasing prevalence of suicidal ideation in our society at this current time and am seeing the importance of how we should be able to recognise a suicidal person and to then be confident enough to communicate with them about suicide.
When I began my counselling training over 10 years ago, I was horrified when I was told that we had to approach a suicidal individual with direct questions like "Are you feeling suicidal?" and "Do you have a plan?". I thought for sure I would escalate their state of mind and maybe even cause further harm by questions like that! But over the years and with the experience now, knowing that asking questions like these can save lives, I think it’s a good time to discuss this heavy topic and help break the stigma of asking someone how they really are when we are concerned for their lives.
First, let’s talk about what to look out for in someone who might be suicidal or thinking about it. There is no comprehensive set of warning signs or clear invitations; but paying attention to people's words, changes in their behaviour, their thoughts and emotions, and the events in their lives could all be signals that someone may be having thoughts of suicide.
If you think someone may be suicidal, then communicating with them about this is essential. You can either call Lifeline or a support service that can give you advice if you are confronted by approaching the conversation with someone or you can do something as simple as offering a cup of tea and engaging in conversation with them.
Below is a helpful video created by the Mayo Clinic. In it, teens describe common signs to look out for when another teen is considering suicide. It helps to provide encouragement for communicating directly and immediately with them to help support and keep the person safe. This video also includes suggestions for what to say to a teen (or anybody for that matter) who may be at risk for suicide and ways to keep them safe.
