Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention
A mental health crisis is when someone’s thoughts or behaviours threaten the safety of themselves or others.
If you or someone you know is in crisis:
Call 9-1-1
or
Go to your nearest emergency department
or
Call a helpline.*If one doesn’t work for you, try another. Don’t give up.
Helplines:
Services below are free and confidential.
Toronto Distress Centre (always open)
Call: 416 408 4357 (416 408 HELP) Text: 45645
Toronto-based Multilingual Helpline (open Mon-Fri, 10am-10pm)
Support available in English, Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Spanish, Portuguese
Call: 905 278 4890
Gerstein Centre (always open)
Call 416 929 5200
Spectra Helpline (Support in English always open)
Multilingual Helplines are open Mon-Fri, 10am-10pm
Support available in Cantonese, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu
Call: 416 920 0497 (Toronto)
Call: 905 459 7777 (Brampton and Mississauga)
Assaulted Women’s Helpline
Call 416 863 0511 Call Toll-free: 1866 863 0511
Below is a combination of what I learned at my Mental Health First-Aid course (find one near you at Mental Health First Aid Canada) and while visiting Beyond Blue which I found to use a refreshingly honest and frank approach to informing us about suicide, self-harm and how best to be of support.
***
“Let’s be frank – many of us are afraid that if we raise suicide, then we risk putting the idea in someone’s head. That talking about suicide actually makes it more likely that someone will take their own life. But Beyond Blue has worked with experts to research what’s the best approach to take. We have learned from all that careful study that talking about suicide helps. It simply isn’t true that talking about suicide makes acting on suicidal thoughts more likely.”
“It’s important to remember that you don’t need to be a clinician, a GP, or a nurse to check-in with someone you are worried about. If a person you know seems to be struggling, reaching out and connecting with them could save their life.”
“Find out if they’ve made a plan. This is important. People who have made a plan are at more risk. Have you thought about how you would kill yourself? Have you thought about when you would kill yourself? Have you taken any steps to get the things you would need to carry out your plan?”
For more information on these ideas visit their website at https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
Suicide ideation: (aka suicidal thoughts) is when someone is thinking about or planning suicide. Thoughts can range from a detailed plan to a fleeting consideration. It does not include the final act of suicide.
Suicide Safety Plan: “for people to use when they are feeling unsafe or suicidal – a plan to refer to and remind themselves of reasons to live, family and friends they can talk to, ideas of activities to do when they’re alone to aid when they are vulnerable. While everyone’s plan will be unique to them, the process and structure are the same – it prompts you to work through the steps until you feel safe.”
Self-harm:“Self-harm refers to people deliberately hurting their bodies. It is usually done in secret and on places of the body that may not be seen by others. The most common type of self-harm is cutting, but there are many other types of self-harm including burning or punching the body, or picking skin or sores. Most people who self-harm are not trying to kill themselves, but there's a chance that they may hurt themselves more than they intended to; this increases their risk of accidental suicide. People who repeatedly self-harm may also become suicidal and feel hopeless and trapped.
Avoid Stigmatizing Terminology
Committed suicide
Successful suicide
Completed suicide
Failed attempt at suicide
Unsuccessful suicide
Use Appropriate Terminology
Died by suicide
Ended his/her/their life
Took his/her/their life
Attempt to end his/her/their life
Click here for information about:
Why people self-harm
Possible suggestions to replace self-harming
How family and friends can help
Click here for information about:
Conversation starters
What to say and what NOT to say
How to be prepared for when the conversation doesn’t go as hoped
Self-care for the supporter
Suicide safety planning