Rural Suicide Awareness And Prevention FAQs
RURAL SUICIDE AWARENESS & PREVENTIOn Questions & Answers
As a follow up to the “Talk Saves Lives” Rural Suicide Awareness & Prevention Training webinar and as a supplement to the educational content provided through the Rural Suicide Awareness and Prevention program, the following questions and answers offer additional information about this important, life-saving topic.
How should you respond to someone who may be suicidal or struggling with their mental health?
According to Talk Saves Lives suicide prevention from American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, it is important to engage someone who may be experiencing suicidal ideation in a conversation:
Talk to them in private.
Listen to their story.
Express concern and caring.
Ask directly about suicidal thoughts. Don’t be afraid to ask the question: “Are you thinking of ending your life?”
Encourage them to seek mental health services.
If in crisis, take them to help.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention also advises having a conversation with someone who may be struggling with their mental health. #RealConvo Guide outlines how to start and continue a discussion about mental health. Talk Away the Dark provides resources for starting the conversation, reaching out for help, responding to someone talking about suicide, and talking to a suicide loss survivor.
It is important to know that starting a conversation with someone about suicide does not present suicide to them as a new idea.
What should you avoid when talking with someone who is suicidal?
It’s better to have a conversation with someone about suicide and not worry about saying the wrong thing than to not talk with the person about suicide.
However, there are some things to avoid when talking with someone who may be suffering from depression, anxiety, or suicidal ideation, according to Talk Saves Lives:
Avoid minimizing their feelings by suggesting that they should “shake it off” or may just be in a slump or rationalizing that everyone feels depressed now and then. Those of us who have never experienced major depression cannot imagine what it feels like.
Avoid trying to convince them that life is worth living. If a person is nearing a crisis point, they are not thinking clearly. Philosophical debates about life being worth living tend not to be helpful.
Avoid providing advice intended to “fix it.” If a person is having a heart attack, you would not tell them to start exercising or eat a healthier diet.
Another thing to avoid is asking closed-ended, leading questions, such as, “Well, you’re not thinking about suicide, are you?” The nature of the question may make the person feel pressured with an expectation for their response to be “no.” This approach makes it easy for both people to avoid an uncomfortable conversation about potential suicide. It may provide false reassurance to the questioner and could be a missed opportunity for someone who is suicidal to talk about what they are feeling and thinking.
What’s the best approach for talking to teens and young people about suicide?
According to American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is in the news and in popular entertainment now more than ever, especially in content for teens. You can play a role in building up your child’s mental health simply by becoming aware of the risk factors and warning signs that can lead to suicide, making yourself available to your child, knowing how to practice having a caring conversation, and being aware that help is always available.
Don’t be afraid to have a conversation with your child about mental health and suicide. Ask your child how they are doing, what’s happening in their world these days, and what their concerns are. It can start simply by asking, “Are you okay?”
Listen intently and without judgment.
Ask open-ended questions (i.e., questions that cannot be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.”)
Resist the urge to offer quick fixes or solutions to mental health challenges, which tend to shut down further dialog.
Validate and support their feelings.
Follow their cues, and say things like, “Tell me more about that. I would love to understand more about what that’s like for you. When he said that/did that to you, how did that make you feel?”
Is there a link between ADHD and suicide?
According to Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), the relationship between ADHD and suicidality is of concern throughout the lifespan.
Adults with ADHD have a higher risk of suicide compared to other adults, according to a national survey of suicide in the US; these risks increase if an individual has a comorbid diagnosis of depression and conduct disorder. While there is less research on children and adolescents with ADHD, the research indicates that early adolescents aged 11–14 years old are at greater risk than those in late adolescence, and males with ADHD are at greater risk of suicide.
Children with ADHD are at a higher risk of developing psychiatric disorders such as substance use disorders, depressive disorders, and antisocial behavior. When coexisting with ADHD, these disorders are risk factors for suicidality. Likewise, impulsivity and aggression are traits seen in individuals with ADHD that are also common among those experiencing suicidality. This may suggest that if someone is presenting with such traits and is diagnosed with ADHD, it is necessary to assess for suicidality.
Is it possible to prevent suicide in every case?
Following a suicide, friends, family members, or loved ones of the deceased may be wracked with tremendous guilt, thinking that if they’d “just done this” or “just said that,” the person would still be here.
It is important to know that, despite one’s best efforts, it is not always possible to prevent someone from dying by suicide.
If you or someone you know has lost someone to suicide, and are struggling with grief, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention provides a free tool to locate a support group in your area. Know that you are not alone and that there are others who are grieving and willing to listen, offer support, and provide company.
In addition to the Talk Saves Lives suicide prevention training, other suicide prevention training is available through LivingWorks safeTalk and QPR (Question. Persuade. Refer.)
What happens when you call 988? Do they notify the police?
Some people may be hesitant about calling 988 due to concern about the police coming to their house. According to Mental Health America, less than 3% of calls received through 988 require police intervention. Typically, the crisis worker does everything they can to de-escalate a caller’s suicidal thoughts and help develop a safety plan before they involve anyone else.
If you are feeling unsafe and concerned about interacting with the police, you can also check out this resource for alternatives to calling the police.
Find more information about suicide awareness and prevention:
