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 T h e . C h r i s t i a n . C o m m u n i t y . S t o p
for Southwestern Sydney
serving the area through the churches and community organisations

 

 Suicide crisis quick facts ::

Click for local help

  ALWAYS take a threat seriously
 Myth: If they are talking, they won't act.

Fact: Most people talk about suicide for quite a while before acting. But they may seem cheerier and less inclined to talk once they have finally made a decision. It's a relief to have reached a conclusion.
ALWAYS get
professional help

The three most likely causes of a suicide threat or attempt are mental illness, extreme stress or attention seeking -- or a combination of several.

But if you think you've got it diagnosed and you are wrong...

ALWAYS give hope

 

(Mental Health Crisis Team: see link at top of this page.)

 Hope is future - oriented.

If your friend phones, and you need to take a break (for example, to contact the Mental Health Crisis Team) ask him/her to call back in half an hour, and you'll be expecting that call! That action
(a) gives a future of at least half an hour, and
(b) gives your friend a positive action to take on her/his own behalf
ALWAYS get the facts

What plans has she made? How will he do it? Has she done anything yet? What arrangements has he made for his family? What has she done to ensure that things are easier for whoever finds the body? Where is he right now?

Make it concrete and specific. You need to be able to tell police or crisis team whether medical assistance might be needed, and what kind. And you will be able to tell whether it is likely to be attempted right now or tomorrow.
NEVER criticise, rubbish, argue...
 Criticism, refusal to listen and all the rest just confirm to your friend that s/he is probably viewed as worthless, incompetent, stupid, not worth taking seriously. This is likely to worsen the crisis and make suicide more likely.
NEVER assume that, because the person is calmer, the crisis is over Anyone who has been talking about suicide is "close to the edge" and will be for weeks or months after the crisis. A harsh word, a bad morning, anything can tip the balance back again, with disastrous results. Always follow through on professional help.

 Site maintained by
Silver Street Mission



ANY comments or advice which might improve this page will be welcomed. E-mail to pspete1@pnc.com.au		 This page is provided in good faith for quick assistance in a crisis. Anyone using it should make his or her own enquiries as to the suitability of following any suggestion on this page.

Neither Peter Green nor Silver Street Mission accepts responsibility for any errors or omissions or for any loss occasioned by someone's following this advice.

Links are also provided in good faith, but the publishers can take no responsibility for any changes to linked sites or for any actions or omissions on the part of the operators of services indicated in a link.

Neither Silver Street Mission nor Peter Green have any connexion with or interest in any other organisation listed in this site.