Preventing Suicide During a Time of Crisis
- oneaidcommunity
- 6 days ago
- 6 min read
If you are considering suicide, please call 988 (press 1 if you're a Veteran) to get connected to support and resources. If you are worried about someone, asking them about their suicidal thoughts will not make the situation worse. Talking about suicide individually and as a society is protective.
The situation:
Major social, political and economic turmoil are significant predictors of increases in suicide rates all over the globe, and the United States is not an exception. Individual risk factors such as job loss, a sense of helplessness, perception of isolation, and being part of group subjected to harassment and cruelty are all exacerbated by major upheavals.
Federal workers have been subjected to all of these because of increasing anti-worker rhetoric and systematic dehumanization and institutional disrespect over the last several months, as well as poorly enacted massive Reductions in Force resulting in sudden and unjustified unemployment.
Furthermore, about 30% of federal workers are Veterans who themselves are at twice the risk for suicide than the general adult population of the United States. The widespread canceling of federally funded programs, contracts, and grants has an impact well beyond the federal workforce, resulting in job loss for workers in universities, for-profit and non-profit organizations, state and local governments, and beyond.
As a result, it is no surprise to hear that there have been reports of deaths by suicide among the federal worker community in recent weeks. Federal workers and their families are frightened, stressed, and hurt by the rapidly changing circumstances. We see you; we hear you. We want to share some information about suicide for people who may be considering it for themselves and for people who are worried about someone.
What to do if you are thinking of completing suicide:
You are not alone. The world is better with you in it. Remember: feelings are not facts, and feelings change over time. Here are some steps to help you navigate these frightening and overwhelming feelings:
1) Seek Support: reach out to someone you trust. If you are able, consider making an appointment with a mental health professional. The 988 Lifeline has a Crisis Center Locator to find the closest place to get immediate help and set up a plan for addressing your needs.
2) Safeguard Your Environment: although someone may be considering suicide for some time, the decision is usually made within hours of the attempt. If you have been considering suicide, take steps now to make your environment safe. Limit your access to things you could use to hurt yourself such as firearms, poisons or large amounts of medication. Consider giving them to a trusted friend or neighbor for a while.
3) Stay Sober: alcohol and drugs can intensify negative emotions and suicidal thoughts. Consider avoiding substances while you are struggling. If you are having trouble stopping or cutting back, reach out to your local crisis center about treatment options. Never handle dangerous items like firearms while you're intoxicated.
4) Make a Safety Plan: a good safety plan has a list of warning signs, things you can do to help yourself, places you can go to take a break, and people you can call for help. Mysafetyplan.org is a guided tool for developing a safety plan. There are also numerous free apps, including VA's Safety Plan app, which is free to everyone. When you've developed your safety plan, consider sharing it with your trusted person.
5) Stay Connected: when we are struggling, we often isolate, which allows suicidal thoughts to fester. Spend time with supportive people and participate in meaningful activities. Try to do this on a regular basis, even if you can only do a few minutes on a particularly difficult day.
6) Self Care: eat regular meals, aiming for nutritious foods when you can. Protect your sleep time; try to rest your body and mind with meditation or mindfulness if you can't sleep. Attend to your hygiene daily. Try to spend at least a few minutes breathing in fresh air every day. Take your daily medicines as prescribed. If you can incorporate body movement that feels good for you, do so.
7) Seek Help:
Call or text 988: The National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline connects you with a trained responder who can help you cope with your immediate crisis and provide you with resources for making a plan to stay safe and get help.
Call 988 and press 1 or text 838255: The Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans with specialist responders who can refer you to your closest VA Suicide Prevention Team, even if you are not enrolled in or eligible for VA healthcare.
Call 988 via Video Phone: for deaf/HoH video calls
For more information about suicide, suicide prevention, suicide loss and resources, visit https://afsp.org/. For a checklist with the above steps and other ideas, The KonTerra Group has published a guide on coping with suicidal thoughts.
What to do if you are worried about someone:
We've all heard the old adage, "If you bring suicide up to someone, you might give them the idea to attempt suicide." We're here to assure you, this is not true. As a matter of fact, if someone is struggling with suicidal thoughts, someone else asking the question is actually protective. It communicates, "I see you and I'm here to listen." Here are some steps on how to respond if someone shares their suicidal thoughts with you:
1) Recognize Warning Signs: suicidal communication or sudden behavioral changes can be warning signs that there may be something serious going on. They may share feelings of being hopeless or trapped or talk about being a burden to others. You may notice changes such as poor self-care, increased risk-taking or substance use or isolation. You may discover that they've been researching suicide methods or learn that they've been putting their affairs in order. Sometimes people can even seem down and then suddenly seem better. Any of these could be a warning sign and should prompt you to ask the question.
2) Ask The Question: Don't be afraid to ask about suicide, and DO ask the question clearly and compassionately: "Are you thinking of suicide?" Avoid euphemisms or demeaning language, as this can shut the conversation down or contribute to avoidance.
3) Listen Empathically: be present, avoid interrupting and let them talk. Use reflective listening and paraphrase what they've said to show you understand what they're saying. Avoid judgments. Statements like, "You shouldn't feel like that. Others have it so much worse than you," can seem reassuring but can often make someone suffering from suicidal thoughts feel misunderstood and alone.
4) Ask About Safety: Ask if they have a specific plan and if they have access to their plan. This can help you understand how urgent the situation is. The more detailed and accessible the plan, the greater the risk, and the more effort you should take to ensure safety. If they have ready or easy access to lethal means for suicide, encourage a plan to reduce access to those means.
5) Verbalize Support: Reassure them they're not alone. Don't promise to keep this a secret. While trust is important, safety is the most important thing. Emphasize that your priority is their well-being and that seeking professional help is a step toward safety.
6) Encourage Help: Encourage them to call a professional or offer to go with them to a crisis center or emergency room; consider calling a crisis line together. The responder can help you both figure out what the next best steps are to keep them safe.
7) Call For Help: If you believe this person may be at imminent risk of harming themselves, you can call the crisis line on their behalf or contact 911 for emergency services to take them to the hospital.
8) Safety First: NEVER transport someone who has already done something to hurt themselves or who has a dangerous object in their possession in your own vehicle.
9) Follow-up: Check in regularly and keep supporting them. Suicidal thoughts don't go away after one conversation, and mental health struggles can take a long time to resolve. Continue reaching out.
10) Know Your Own Limits: While we all have a role to play in suicide prevention, you're not expected to do this alone. Enlist your own support and don't hesitate to reach out to a crisis line or mental health professional for help.
For more information about supporting someone with suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, or for support for suicide loss, visit https://afsp.org/. For a guide with more information about the above steps and other ideas, The KonTerra Group has published a guide on supporting someone with suicidal thoughts.
From the bottoms of our hearts:
We must be here for one another, and to do that, we have to be here. We're separated by millions of miles and internet tubes, but we're all weathering the same storm. I fall and you pick me up. You fall and I pick you up.
Hold the line, friends. We love you.