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Suicide Intervention Strategies That May Save a Life

If Your Are Thinking About Suicide......Read this First

If you suspect that someone is considering suicide, it is critical you take the following actions. Click here: Save A Life or Click here: Speaking of Suicide

If you suspect that someone you care about is considering suicide, help is available to support you in helping to intervene. Please call 911 and ask to be connected to your local crisis help line or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988

Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Postvention

Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention (PIP) are the three areas of focus when working in the area of suicide. They can be understood as the before, during, and after experiences of thoughts of suicide, attempts, or death. Suicide Intervention is a direct effort to prevent a person or persons from attempting to take their own life or lives intentionally. Suicide intervention is the most frequent mental health emergency. The goal of crisis intervention, in this case, is to mitigate the suicidal behavior, keep the individual alive, and reach a state of stability. In other words, the goal is to help the individual(s) reduce distress and survive the crisis.  

Culturally Competant Approaches

Suicide prevention efforts will more likely be effective if they are based on the values, needs, and strengths of the groups you are trying to reach. Suicide prevention efforts should be respectful and responsive to groups’ beliefs, practices, and cultural and linguistic needs and preferences. Factors to consider include not only race and ethnicity, but also age, education, physical and mental health, gender identity, sexual orientation, occupation, religion, and other characteristics.

Tailor information and resources to respectfully address the target population’s values, beliefs, culture, and language. Use alternative formats (e.g., audiotape, large print, storytelling) whenever appropriate. Create an open dialogue with group members to allow cultural considerations to be communicated, such as preferences regarding personal space, geography, familiarity, and terminology (i.e., words that should be used or avoided). Explore the Suicide Prevention Resource Center Best Practices Registry, a library of suicide prevention programs and interventions that incorporate best practices, national frameworks and culturally relevant approaches.

Notice: This informational website is not intended as a crisis response or hotline. Local crisis hotline numbers can be found in the front of your local phone book or call 911.