International Association of Fire Fighters Local 18 / Vancouver Fire Rescue Services

VANFIRE Wellness

I’m seriously thinking about suicide.

What should I do?

Information provided from crisiscentre.bc.ca

Help is Available! We are here to listen, here to help – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, call 1-800-784-2433 (1-800-SUICIDE), or call your local crisis centre. The phone lines below are available in over 140 languages using a language service. Let us know which language you require, and we will try and provide an interpreter.

Contact The Crisis Society:

Anywhere in BC: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
Vancouver:604-872-3311
Sunshine Coast/Sea to Sky:1-866-661-3311
Mental Health Support Line:310-6789
Seniors Distress Line: 604-872-1234
Online Chat Service for Youth:www.YouthInBC.com (Noon to 1am)
Online Chat Service for Adults:www.CrisisCentreChat.ca (Noon to 1am)

We are not responsible for the decisions that someone else makes. However, we are often in the best position to recognize and initiate the first response to someone experiencing a suicidal crisis. Some suicides (20%) occur without any warning and others occur despite the very caring responses of friends, family and helping professionals. Suicide is ultimately a personal choice – it is not our job to ‘save’ someone else’s life, only to offer them other options.

Responding to a person who is suicidal

Start the process of talking and reaching out. Find out about the person’s feelings.
Ask direct questions such as ‘Are you considering suicide?’ ‘Do you have a plan for how you will kill yourself?’ The more realistic, specific and lethal the plan, the greater the risk. Take the answers seriously and listen and watch for potential signals.
Be a supportive listener. Accept the person’s feelings instead of minimizing or judging them. Tell them it is okay to feel the way they do. Try to understand things from their perspective. Avoid joking around or acting shocked.
Offer help. Let the person know you care and want to help. Be there to listen, support and encourage them to get the help they need. Keep in mind that it isn’t your job to fix their life or solve their problems.
Help them help themselves. Suggest people they can talk to, such as a parent or relative, close friend, teacher, counsellor, doctor, or nurse. If they won’t get help for themselves, get it for them. Tell someone you can trust.
Call a Crisis Centre. Crisis Centres give support and information to people in distress, as well as to the friends and family who care about them. Anyone who is suicidal needs the help of a professional and a Crisis Centre can provide appropriate information.
Be firm and be focused. Never promise to keep a suicide plan secret. Never dare a person or say you don’t believe them. Never leave a high risk person alone without making sure that they have help.

Additional indicators strongly associated with suicidality

1) preparation for Death.

Giving away prized possessions, making a will, settling loose ends
Saying goodbye or talking about going away unexpectedly, or with a sense of finality

2) Talking about suicide, death or dying

Saying things such as ‘Life isn’t worth it…’ or ‘Things would be better if I was gone…’
Making jokes, poems, drawings or other references to suicide, death or dying
Sharing/expressing morbid fantasy or plans about dying or death

3) Previous unresolved or recent suicide attempt

Some behaviours to watch for

Increased use of drugs or alcohol
Withdrawal/isolation from once enjoyable people/activities
Risky impulsive activities
Aggressive, violent behaviour; rage/revengeful acts
Decreased or increased performance (school, work, hobbies, sports)
Self-neglect (appearance or hygiene)
Extreme mood swings
Changes in energy level (up or down)
Complaints about health
Difficulty concentrating
Decreased, increased or otherwise disturbed eating and/or sleeping

Some attitudes to look for

Depression:    Nothing seems important anymore. Life’s a bad joke.
Hopelessness/helplessness:    There is nothing I can do to change this.
Purposelessness:    There is nothing to live for; there is no point to anything.
Worthlessness:    I can’t do anything right. No one cares if I live or die.
Overwhelmed:    I can’t stand this anymore. This is way too much for me.
Intense worry/anxiety:    Everything is falling apart. Everyone is going to be disappointed in me.
Recklessness/impulsiveness:    I don’t care if I break my neck.
Elation: Everything is perfect now! (suddenly, after someone has been in a lot of distress)

Some significant losses to look for

Death of a loved one, especially by suicide
A key relationship unraveling or ending
Instability/turmoil at home/in one’s family
A severe change in social status or sense of belonging
Unemployment, loss of a highly valued ability or activity
Fear of disciplinary action/incarceration/physical violence
Trauma from sexual or other assault
Trauma from serious illness or injury
Major financial/economic loss

Understanding and Recognizing When someone may be Suicidal

Responding to a person who is suicidal

Start the process of talking and reaching out. Find out about the person’s feelings.

Ask direct questions such as ‘Are you considering suicide?’ ‘Do you have a plan for how you will kill yourself?’ The more realistic, specific and lethal the plan, the greater the risk. Take the answers seriously and listen and watch for potential signals.

Be a supportive listener. Accept the person’s feelings instead of minimizing or judging them. Tell them it is okay to feel the way they do. Try to understand things from their perspective. Avoid joking around or acting shocked.

Offer help. Let the person know you care and want to help. Be there to listen, support and encourage them to get the help they need. Keep in mind that it isn’t your job to fix their life or solve their problems.

Help them help themselves. Suggest people they can talk to, such as a parent or relative, close friend, teacher, counsellor, doctor, or nurse. If they won’t get help for themselves, get it for them. Tell someone you can trust.

Call a Crisis Centre. Crisis Centres give support and information to people in distress, as well as to the friends and family who care about them. Anyone who is suicidal needs the help of a professional and a Crisis Centre can provide appropriate information.

Be firm and be focused. Never promise to keep a suicide plan secret. Never dare a person or say you don’t believe them. Never leave a high risk person alone without making sure that they have help.

Additional indicators strongly associated with suicidality

1) preparation for Death.

Giving away prized possessions, making a will, settling loose ends

Saying goodbye or talking about going away unexpectedly, or with a sense of finality

2) Talking about suicide, death or dying

Saying things such as ‘Life isn’t worth it…’ or ‘Things would be better if I was gone…’

Making jokes, poems, drawings or other references to suicide, death or dying

Sharing/expressing morbid fantasy or plans about dying or death

3) Previous unresolved or recent suicide attempt

Some behaviours to watch for

Increased use of drugs or alcohol

Withdrawal/isolation from once enjoyable people/activities

Risky impulsive activities

Aggressive, violent behaviour; rage/revengeful acts

Decreased or increased performance (school, work, hobbies, sports)

Self-neglect (appearance or hygiene)

Extreme mood swings

Changes in energy level (up or down)

Complaints about health

Difficulty concentrating

Decreased, increased or otherwise disturbed eating and/or sleeping

Understanding and Recognizing When someone may be Suicidal