How to help when you think a student might be at risk

Before We Begin Discussing suicide can be triggering Please take care of yourself Please respect others needs to take care of themselves Please be mindful of confidentiality

Suicidality on Canadian Post- Secondary Campuses American College Health Association – National College Health Assessment survey of Canadian Post-secondary institutions (2013)

Check Your Head What do you believe about suicide? Reflect on your personal experiences with suicide. How do those experiences impact your beliefs? How would they influence how you would approach a student at risk? Be aware of your own roadblocks and blind spots

Why Suicide? Overwhelming distress/pain “I can’t tolerate this.” Hopelessness “It’s never going to get better.” Suicide is about stopping the pain

Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicidal Behaviour Perceived Burdensomeness Social Alienation/ Low Belongingness Acquired Capacity for Lethal Self-injury Joiner, 2005

…now what?

SOS: Signals of Suicidality Behaviours Statements Emotions Situational Stressors

When talking with a student who’s at risk for suicide Do Don’t Be yourself Listen carefully Validate their distress Believe them Be calm Be clear about confidentiality Offer hope and help Judge or moralize Invalidate or minimize their pain Offer empty platitudes Guilt trip them Panic

Make a Personal Connection Ensure you’ve got time and privacy Encourage them to share what’s troubling them Listen attentively and validate their emotional pain

Pop the Question Frame the question based on what they’ve said Be clear about what you’re asking “Have you had thoughts about dying?” “Has a part of you wanted to end your life?” “Have you been thinking about killing yourself?”

Gather Information Do they have: A suicide plan (Method, timeline, location) Access to lethal means Past attempts to kill themselves Substance misuse Mental health concerns Other ways they could see dealing with their pain Reasons for living

Quick Risk Assessment

Next Steps Your role is to help them seek support, not to solve the root problem Focus on short term planning Personal safety plan Immediate next steps Plan to follow up/check in

What if they refuse help? Be transparent about your actions If they’re at imminent risk don’t leave them alone. Call 911 and campus security If they’re not in imminent danger, work with them on what they are willing to do *Do everything you can do, but remember that you can’t do everything

If you have to call 911… Collect your thoughts and details first They will ask for details including: Name, gender, age, physical appearance Have they done anything to harm themselves already (i.e. taken pills, cut themselves, etc.)? Do they have any weapons or sharps? When and what did they last eat (if concerned about poison)?

Hospitalization They need to be clear and honest about their suicidality It’s very helpful to have a friend/support person with them They will be interviewed by a psychiatric nurse or social worker, doctor, and possibly psychiatrist Wait times can be very long They may not be admitted despite being at risk

Look After Yourself Debrief where appropriate Seek support for yourself Do extra self-care