Let’s talk about safety planning.

When someone we care about is thinking about suicide, we want nothing more than we want them to stay alive. We want them to agree to live, to stay safe and to feel better. In this episode we’re sharing ideas and strategies for building the most effective safety plan.

Some key tips:

* Keep it short. Planning for the next 24 hours is good, and sometimes you can go longer but often you’ll need to make it shorter.

* Keep it simple. What are their top 3 comfort strategies they can access if they’re feeling the pain? Who are their top 3 contacts they can call anytime?

* Give them lots of choice. When you empower them to choose the steps to include in their safety plan, they’ll feel more confident following it when it’s needed.

It seems counterintuitive to suggest that you sit with the person’s pain first, when every fibre of your being wants to do something to help keep them alive. It can be hard to imagine, but when you explore the things that are causing them pain, it can give some relief and just talking it out can also allow the person to shift their perspective.

As they speak about their problems, you may also hear them mention things that feel more hopeful - a pet they love, plans with a person they care about, some activity they enjoy doing. When they seem to be feeling some relief, you can ask them about these positive parts of their life, exploring the resources they’ve already got in place even if their pain has temporarily dimmed those lights for them.

What do I do if they ARE thinking about suicide?

When you’re able to ask the question “Are you thinking about suicide?” clearly and directly, sometimes the answer might be yes. When that happens it can be terrifying and your first instinct might be to call 911. That might be the right call, but in this episode, we’re also offering some options to help you stay grounded yourself, and to begin by using empathy and active listening to help the person feel heard and understood in their pain. When you’re able to stay calm and explore their feelings and thoughts in conversation, they may experience relief from the hopelessness and helplessness that contributes to thoughts of suicide.

When you know the signs that someone is thinking about suicide, it can create deep anxiety about what will happen next. Learn how to talk about their feelings, to ask the question, clearly and directly, and how to think about suicide as a spectrum when you’re wondering how to support someone.

What is prevention?

Suicide prevention happens whenever we take action to enhance life, making it easier to survive and thrive. Some keys to suicide prevention include housing, income, food security, access to effective mental health treatment, social supports and developing coping skills.

Learn the warning signs that someone may be thinking about suicide. Awareness helps you know when to take direct action for prevention.

What is suicide and how does it become an option?

Maureen and Alyssa introduce themselves and the topic, sharing a simple definition and several relevant statistics. This episode also discusses several factors that can contribute to suicidal thoughts and attempts.

This podcast does not offer medical advice or psychological care. If you are in distress, please reach out to a care provider in your region. In Canada, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide Crisis Helpline anytime, day or night.