Just the FACTS please:
Suicide Prevention (1/4)

Oct 8, 2018 | Facebook Live, Mental Health Recovery, videos

For the month of September, Mary is expanding her discussions on suicide awareness and prevention because of Suicide Awareness Week. In this four part series, she will work to give you the skills needed to talk with people that displaying symptoms of depression and suicide. Everybody has a role in suicide prevention- anyone can save a life. Take this moment of hope and share this information with others.

The FACTS

People get scared when trying to confront and/or help with suicide prevention. Don’t be a Miss Dismiss Ignore- learn the FACTS: Feelings, Actions, Changes, Threats, and Situations. When do you act? Listen to your gut.

  • Feelings:
    Think about another person’s feelings- are they feeling hopeless, down, disconnected- these feelings are notable.
  • Actions:
    Is this person using more drugs or alcohol, giving away possessions, not enjoying their hobbies, pushing people away, isolation, etc?
  • Changes:
    Have you noticed changes in their eating, sleeping, sexual behavior? If so, this can be an indication of depression. Not everyone that is depressed is suicidal- that’s why you need the FACTS. Are these changes new? Communicate with other people that care about this person to see if there are reasons for them being down.
  • Threats:
    If they actual say something in the vein of: “They’d be better off without me.” “No one would miss me.” These are threats to themselves. They can be obvious or vague but listen to a person’s context. Stop and listen.
  • Situations:
    Have they had some kind of loss (job, death, etc) or a change in relationship that may have caused depression in the last few weeks?

Now that you know the FACTS, Mary will be discussing how to help with CARE (Connect, Ask, Refer, and Encourage). This first week she will be discussing how to Connect.

CARE
Connect
Let them know they are seen and cared about. Think about what it means to you for you to have a real connection? How would it be best to show you are there? Listen and connect. Learn how with Mary.

National Suicide Prevention Line

Don’t wait until the end of this series to get help or help another. Call for help and resources.

Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text 741741.

Facebook Live, September 7, 2018