Stigma associated with mental illnesses can prevent people from getting help. Your willingness to talk about depression and suicide with a friend, family member, or co-worker can be the first step in getting help and preventing suicide.

 

If You See the Warning Signs of Suicide...

1. Begin a dialogue by asking questions.Suicidal thoughts are common with depressive illnesses and your willingness to talk about it in a non-judgmental, non-confrontational way can be the help a person needs to seeking professional help. Here are some questions that are okay to ask:

• "Do you ever feel so badly that you think about suicide?"
• "Do you have a plan to commit suicide or take your life?"
• "Have you thought about when you would do it (today, tomorrow, next week)?"
• "Have you thought about what method you would use?"

Asking these questions will help you to determine if your friend or family members is in immediate danger, and get help if needed. A suicidal person should see a doctor or mental health professional immediately. Calling 911 or going to a hospital emergency room are also good options to prevent a tragic suicide attempt or death. Calling the National Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) is also a resource for you or the person you care about for help. Remember; always take thoughts of or plans for suicide seriously.

2. Never keep a plan for suicide a secret. Don’t worry about risking a friendship if you truly feel a life is in danger. You have bigger things to worry about-someone’s life might be in danger! It is better to lose a relationship from violating a confidence than it is to go to a funeral. And most of the time they will come back and thank you for saving their life.

3. Don't try to minimize problems or shame a person into changing their mind. Your opinion of a person's situation is irrelevant. Trying to convince a person suffering with a mental illness that it's not that bad, or that they have everything to live for may only increase their feelings of guilt and hopelessness. Reassure them that help is available, that depression is treatable, and that suicidal feelings are temporary. Life can get better!

4. If you feel the person isn't in immediate danger, acknowledge the pain as legitimate and offer to work together to get help. Make sure you follow through. This is one instance where you must be tenacious in your follow-up. Help find a doctor or a mental health professional, participate in making the first phone call, or go along to the first appointment. If you're in a position to help, don't assume that your persistence is unwanted or intrusive. Risking your feelings to help save a life is a risk worth taking.

 

Suicidal Thoughts: What to Do

If you have thoughts of suicide, these options are available to you:

• Dial: 911
• Dial: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
• Check yourself into the emergency room.
• Tell someone who can help you find help immediately.
• Stay away from things that might hurt you.

 

If you are around someone who you think may be suicidal, these options are available:

SOBER ADULT or HIGH ON SUBSTANCES WITH SUICIDAL ACTIONS (SUICIDE ATTEMPT):

• Has cut self (cut, bitten skin, broken skin, self-inflicted wound, etc)
• Has visible rope marks on neck
• Has ingested any amount of pills, liquid medications, cleaning products or other substances inappropriately
• Has poured gasoline on self
• Has turned on gas
• Has tried to jump from a moving vehicle
• Has been talking about dying/suicide and is seen with a gun, rope, noose or other means of self-destruction

- OR -

• Any other inherently self-destructive actions.

 

Actions:

1.  Call 911 immediately and/or transport to the nearest Emergency Room

2.  Medical personnel will assess further and make appropriate referrals

3.  Follow up on Mental Health and/or alcohol or drug program referrals

 

MINOR (SOBER OR HIGH ON SUBSTANCES) WITH SUICIDAL ACTIONS (SUICIDE ATTEMPT):

• Has cut self (cut, bitten skin, broken skin, self-inflicted wound, etc)
• Has visible rope marks on neck
• Has ingested any amount of pills, liquid medications, cleaning products or other substances inappropriately
• Has poured gasoline on self
• Has turned on gas
• Has tried to jump from a moving vehicle
• Has been talking about dying/suicide and is seen with a gun, rope, noose or other means of self-destruction

- OR -

• Any other inherently self-destructive actions

 

Actions:

1.  Call 911 immediately and/or transport to the nearest Emergency Room

2.  Notify parent/guardian

3.  Medical personnel will assess further and make appropriate referrals

4.  Follow up on Mental Health and/or alcohol or drug program referrals

 

SOBER ADULT WITH SUICIDAL TALK/THOUGHTS WITH INTENT TO HARM SELF (SUICIDAL IDEATION WITH INTENT):

• Is talking, drawing or writing about self-harm/death;
• Is talking of joining a deceased loved one;
• Has a plan;
• Has a means available; and/or
• When asked if they are having thoughts of suicide, responds yes.

 

Actions:

1.  Call 911 or transport to nearest Emergency Room

2.  Contact Law Enforcement for Protective Custody

3.  Make appropriate follow-up appointment with a Mental Health professional

 

ADULT HIGH ON SUBSTANCES AND/OR ALCOHOL WITH SUICIDAL TALK/THOUGHTS WITH INTENT TO HARM SELF (SUICIDAL IDEATION WITH INTENT):

• Is talking, drawing or writing about self-harm/death;
• Is talking of joining a deceased loved one;
• Has a plan;
• Has a means available; and/or
• When asked if they are having thoughts of suicide, responds yes.

 

Actions:

1.  Call 911 immediately and/ or transport to nearest Emergency Room

2.  Because of potential lethality is heightened by substances, patient needs to be placed in a safe, well-supervised environment, hospitalization or protective custody, until patient is sober/clean

3.  Make referral to appropriate alcohol/drug program for evaluation

4.  Make appointment with Mental Health for follow-up

• Is talking, drawing or writing about self-harm/death
• Is talking of joining a deceased loved one
• Has a plan
• Has a means available; and/or
• When asked if they are having thoughts of suicide, responds yes.

 

Actions:

1.  Call 911 immediately and/or transport to nearest Emergency Room

2.  Notify parent/guardian

3.  Make appointment with Mental Health for follow-up

 

MINOR HIGH ON SUBSTANCES WITH SUICIDAL TALK/THOUGHTS WITH INTENT TO HARM SELF (SUICIDAL IDEATION WITH INTENT):

• Is talking, drawing or writing about self-harm/death
• Is talking of joining a deceased loved one
• Has a plan
• Has a means available; and/or
• When asked if they are having thoughts of suicide, responds yes.

 

Actions:

1.  Call 911 immediately  or transport to nearest Emergency Room

2.  Notify parent/guardian

3.  Because lethality is heightened by substances, patient needs to be placed in a safe, well-supervised environment (by hospitalization or protective custody) until patient is sober

4.  Make referral to appropriate alcohol/drug program for evaluation

5.  Make appointment with Mental Health for follow-up

 

MINOR HIGH ON SUBSTANCES WITHOUT SUICIDAL INTENTIONS/IDEATIONS:

• Call 911 or transport to nearest emergency room to medically stabilize.
• Because of vulnerability he/she needs to be placed in a safe, well-supervised environment until he/she is sober
• Make referral to appropriate alcohol/drug program for evaluation

• An individual is found presumably dead

 

Actions:

1.  Call 911 and/or Call Law Enforcement

• SWO Tribal Police 698-7661
• Robert’s County Sheriff’s Office 698-7667
• Sisseton City Police  698-3931

 

Making an appointment with a Mental Healthcare Professional for Survivors

1.  Go to the nearest emergency room immediately if you feel it’s necessary.

2.  Call immediately for an appointment when someone you know needs help.

3.  Let the person who answers the phone know that you need an appointment for someone who is “suicidal” or is “thinking about killing themselves.” We know that the words may be hard to say, but is a necessity when you are trying to save someone’s life.