What to Do If Someone Is Talking about Suicide

• Call 911 if you or someone you know is in crisis

• Call or text 988 to reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
  • • • The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in crisis and for people worried about a friend or loved one. 
      • Other language and accessibility options are available through this service.
• Franklin County Suicide Prevention line: 614.221.5445
• Franklin County Youth Psychiatric Crisis Line: 614.722.1800

How to Speak with Someone about Suicide Prevention

The biggest myth about suicide is that if you talk with someone about suicide, it will put the idea in their head. It has the opposite effect because candidly addressing suicide can make people realize that if they can talk about it, then maybe there’s another way to deal with the concerns they are having. If someone is talking about suicide:

• Make sure they know they are not alone.
  • Say something, such as, “This is really important, and I want to make sure you have the support you deserve. Can I go with you to talk to someone?”
• Don’t offer to keep someone’s suicidal thoughts a secret.
• If you have a concern about a person’s safety but don’t know how to talk to them directly, reach out to someone else.

Mindfulness — Being mindful goes a long way. Working to center yourself can help create good coping skills before you’re in crisis. 

Reducing Stigma in Dublin — Practice saying the words: “Are you thinking about suicide?” It’s not a comfortable thing to say, but it’s important to prepare yourself and be confident so you can be in the position to help others when necessary.