Suicide Prevention Resources

While each individual is different, there are some common warning signs.  Watch for signs of emotional distress:

• Talking, joking or researching about death.
• Feelings of hopelessness, depression, anxiety, anger, or humiliation.  Thinking of oneself as a burden to others.
• Isolating from others, withdrawal from daily life.
• Reckless behavior, substance abuse, self-inflicted injuries
• Significant changes in behavior, appearance, eating and sleeping habits, academic/work performance
• Giving away prized possessions, saying goodbye, making suicidal statements - either direct "I want to die" or indirect "Things would be better if I weren't here."

Other Risk Factors:

• Loss of a significant other
• Previous suicide of peer or family member
• Adverse experiences: family/personal stress, traumatic event, substance abuse
• Mental health needs
• Access to weapons or other means of harming self

IMPORTANT: these signs and risk factors are generalities.  Not all individuals who think about or die by suicide will exhibit these symptoms, AND not all individuals who exhibit these are suicidal.

You can start a conversation simply by saying "I am concerned about you. You don't seem like your usual self. Help me understand what life is like for you right now."

How to show empathy while you listen: 

• Show them you care by giving your full attention.
• Acknowledge their pain and their feelings.
• Avoid 'fixing' the problems or judging. Allow them to share their perspective.
• Reflect back what they have told you to show that you hear them.  Avoid statements like "I know what it's like", and instead say "Thank you for telling me."
• Just listen.  This can really help.

Suicidal thoughts are complicated, and often accompanied by a strong sense of isolation.  By listening openly and acknowledging someone's hurt, you can help to ease the isolation.  Empathy involves opening your heart to another person's experiences, even when their perspective may differ from our own.

Asking about suicide will not make an individual suicidal.  Asking if someone is having suicidal thoughts gives them permission to talk about it.  It sends a message that you are concerned and want to help. This can provide an opportunity to share their distress and seek help, which can offer needed relief.

When you ask:

• Ask directly and calmly:
  • "Are you thinking about suicide?" or "Are you thinking about killing yourself?"
  • "Sometimes when people are ________, they being to think about suicide.  Are you thinking about suicide?"
• Avoid indirect or unspecific phrases like "hurting yourself".  This can be misunderstood.
• Allow for silence.  This conversation may take some time.
• Be prepared to hear "yes"

If the individual says "Yes" to your question, ask the following questions: 

• "Have you thought about a plan?"
• "Do you have access to a method to act on that plan?"

Putting time and distance between someone at risk for suicide & access to the method they plan to use can save a life.  Creating these barriers is an important step to prevent suicide.  Act deliberately to limit access to weapons, medications, substances, and other means.  Consider removing access to:

• Medication: including prescription and over-the-counter meds, do not allow self-administration.
• Sharps: including knives, razors, scissors, make-up sharpeners, X-Acto blades.
• Firearms & ammunition: consider removing from the home. If not, secure firearms and ammunition in separate locked locations.  Consider periodically changing the combination or the place a key is hidden.
• Substances: consider removing all alcohol or other substances from your home.  This includes chemicals such as cleaning products, bleach or other potential toxins.
• Behavior: if you are concerned about destructive behavior, lock up or limit access to any items that could easily be broken or used as a weapon.

Do not leave an individual in imminent danger alone.  Take the Next Steps below to get help.

Take action to get help immediately.  Don't ever offer to keep talk of suicide a secret, even if you are asked, and don't leave a person in crisis alone without safety resources.  Instead, get help from available resources, and connect the person to someone with the skills to provide support.  There are a number of resources to help: 

24/7 Crisis Lines:  these resources are free and confidential.  A trained crisis counselor will listen until they understand the situation, then provide support and share additional resources that may help.  Save these numbers in your phone now, so should you need to help someone in crisis later, you'll have it readily available.

• Crisis Text Line: text “Heal” to 741-741
• Teen Line: text "Teen" to 839-863
• King County local 24/7 Crisis Line (suicide, mental health, substance use): 800-621-4636
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
• Trevor Project (specifically for the LGBTQ+ community): 1-866-488-7386
• Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860

Emergency Resources: in case of immediate danger, consider the following...

• Emergency Room visit for safety assessment & connection to care:
  • Seattle Children's Hospital ER -- 4800 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle 98105. 206-987-2000.  Free valet parking, entrance forest, level 1.
  • Swedish ER - Issaquah Highlands -- 751 NE Blakely Drive, Issaquah 98029. 425-394-0610. Free parking in lot.
  • Valley Medical Center ER -- 400 South 43rd St, Renton 98055.  425-690-1000. Free parking in South Tower Garage, free valet parking at main entrance 5am-5pm M-F.
• Crisis Connections: King County's 24hr Crisis Line 206-461-3222.  Mobile crisis outreach and stabilization services in home - Children's Crisis Outreach Response System (CCORS).
• Call 9-1-1 for emergencies.

Additional Resources: 

• Tell a Trusted Adult: If you are a student and you are in crisis, or worried about a friend in crisis, tell an adult IMMEDIATELY about these concerns.
  • Talk to a parent, guardian, caregiver, or other adult family member.
  • Tell a trusted adult at school (teacher, school counselors, school mental health counselor, nurse, principal, etc)
  • Tell a trusted adult in the community (coach, neighbor, faith community)
• Submit a Tip: Issaquah Tip is an online support system that allows students to communicate a concern to school administrators, anonymously if they wish. NOTE: this is not an immediate response system - messages sent during non-school hours will be responded to the next school day, typically.  https://www.isd411.org/safety-concern