My Blog

suicide and cutting stuff

•  threatens suicide
• talks about wanting to die
• seems despressed or withdrawn
• deliberatley injures themselves
• shows changes in mood, behaviour, or appearance
• abuses drugs or alcohol

• stay calm and LISTEN
• let them talk
• DO NOT JUDGE
• ASK if they have any SUICIDAL THOUGHTS
• Stay with the person until they are safe
• TAKE ALL THREATS SERIOUSLY
• DO NOT KEEP SECRETS
• GET HELP!

• Crisis Services of Waterloo Region:  519-744-1813
• Distress Centre:  519-745-1166
• Youth Line:  519-745-9909
• Grand River Hospital:  519-742-3611
• Cambridge Memorial Hospital:  519-621-2330
• OR CALL 911

• A Non-Judgemental attitude
• Understanding of the person's emotional pain and reasons for hurting themselves
• Listen to them for as long as they need
• Ask them if they want to talk about why they have done this
• For some people it is useful to either sit in silence or give them a hug
• verbally telling them you are not condemning them for a way of coping and surviving and that you want to help them (assuming the person knows this may not be the case)
• supporting them to get medical help for injuries
• providing them with other places to get support

• shouting at them
• blaming them or someone they care about
• calling them attention seeking
• telling them to pull themselves together
• forcing them to stop by physical means
• pleading with them to stop or using emotional blackmail (ex. If you loved me you'd stop)