Ten Simple Actions That Can Help Prevent Suicide

Suicide is undoubtedly a difficult topic and one that many people choose to avoid. Sadly, avoidance can lead to tragedy. Instead, bringing the subject out of the shadows could help to save a life.

Ready to Help

Not everyone will have been on mental health training courses Swansea or elsewhere and may not have received training from companies such as https://www.tidaltraining.co.uk/mental-health-training-courses/swansea/. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t a few simple helpful measures that you can take to help prevent suicide.

Steps to Take

The following are all simple actions that could make the difference between life and death:

Help an individual access appropriate mental health support or care when the first signs of suicidal ideations occur.

Have honest and open conversations. You won’t put suicidal ideas in someone’s head by asking them if they are thinking of ending their life. In fact, suicide research shows that the opposite is true.

Foster feelings of connectedness, as this has been shown to reduce risk.

Create a safe environment and limit access to weapons, items and medications that could be used to end a life.

Understand the warning signs and be on the lookout.

Create a written safety plan with the help of a mental health professional. This document can be referred to when a person is in crisis. It will be an actions and activities checklist that the individual promises to follow in order to stay safe.

Be aware of social and environmental stressors that can increase the risk of suicide. This can include everything from death, divorce and financial stress to unemployment, bullying or harassment.

Take someone’s words and intentions seriously and don’t assume they are simply ‘cries for help’.

Help someone to commit to their own care and you commit to supporting them with this.

Make a contacts list that a person can use when they are feeling suicidal. This can include contacts such as therapists, crisis centres and doctors, along with friends and family who understand that their support may be required.