How to support a friend experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviours:

Tell them that you are here to listen to them and want to understand how they feel.
It’s okay to ask someone directly whether they are thinking about suicide.
Listen non-judgementally and encourage your friend to talk to someone about how they feel – this can be a health professional, someone within their hall of residence if they live on campus, a parent or relative, or another trusted person.
If you are worried about their safety, you may need to tell them that you are going to get help for them yourself, either from a local crisis mental health team, or through Lifeline or 000.
Continue to check in with them later to see how they are going.
Make sure you remember to look after yourself too, it can be hard and feel overwhelming when someone close to you is thinking about suicide. Lifeline and other support services are also there to support you as well.

Submitted by u1153206 on Mon, 06/24/2024 - 12:35 meta

Information

What is suicide safety planning?

Having thoughts of suicide can feel overwhelming. If you have been having thoughts of suicide, you may find it really hard to know what to do, or be in so much emotional pain you don't think you can cope.

A safety plan can be helpful during these times. It puts all your coping tools into a series of steps:

Recognising your warning signs
Making your surroundings safe
Reminders of reasons to live
Things that can make you feel strong
People and places to connect with
Family and friends you can talk or yarn with
Professional support

While everyone's plan is personal and different, it can help in the same way.
Many people find that making a safety plan can be helpful, even if they are not experiencing suicidal thoughts.

You can use the exercise in the activity module to complete your own safety plan. You can also use other online tools such as this:
https://www.lifeline.org.au/get-help/beyond-now/ or download the Beyond Now suicide safety planning app.

Activity

Create your own safety plan

You can use the template below to create your own safety plan, and you can save it for future reference.

My warning signs

These are changes (or thoughts, feelings, images) that let you know that you’re heading into a crisis.

e.g. "I feel like a burden"

My reasons to live

Write down the things that make you want to live – big or small!

e.g. My pet, things I haven't done yet

Making my space safe

Things you can do to get rid of stuff that could be used to hurt you or end your life.

e.g. Lock away things I could use to harm myself

Things I can do by myself

List things that you can do to distract yourself from suicidal thoughts.

e.g. Listen to music

People and places I can connect with

List the people you can connect with, or places you can go.

e.g. Text my mum, join an online support group

People I can talk to

List the trusted people you can talk to when you need (Name, Phone, Alternative Contact)

Professional support

List the professional supports that you can access. In an emergency, you can call:

000
Lifeline 13 11 14 (24/7)
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659467 (24/7)

My warning signs

My reasons to live:

Making my space safe:

Things I can do by myself:

People and places I can connect with:

People I can talk to:

Professional support:

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