Quick help
- Ask the person directly if they have a plan to kill themselves.
- If yes, call your local mental health crisis team or go with the person to the nearest Emergency Department.
- If the person is in immediate danger Call 111 and ask for an ambulance.
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Suicide prevention
Suicide can happen at any age and anywhere in our communities. Many people who consider suicide don’t want to die – they just want their pain to end, or they can’t see another way out of their situation.
Someone who is thinking about suicide will sometimes give clues or signs to people around them, although these can be hard to spot. Recognising these warning signs might save a person’s life.
What to look for
If a person shows one or more of these signs it doesn’t necessarily mean they want to take their life, but they may need your support.
Organising access to something they could use to hurt themselves. Like a rope or gun.
Reads or writes about suicide online. They may also post photos or videos about suicide.
Becomes obsessed with death. Talks about death and dying all the time.
Becomes isolated or withdrawn. Not wanting to spend time with whānau and friends.
Not coping. The person doesn’t seem to be coping with any problems they may be having.
Tells you they want to die or kill themselves. The person tells you directly that they are thinking about suicide.
Mood changes. The person might become depressed or angry.
Hurts themselves. The person might do something like cutting their skin or taking an overdose.
Feeling worthless. The person might tell you they feel guilty, whakamā or ashamed.
Feeling hopeless. The person has no hopes about their future.
Using drugs or alcohol. This might be their way of dealing with difficult feelings or thoughts.
Recent weight changes. The person might have unusual eating patterns.
Disturbed sleep. The person might sleep a lot more than usual or not get enough sleep.
No interest in life. They may have lost interest in things they used to enjoy.
Tying up loose ends. They may give their possessions away, or pay back debts as though they're finalising things.
Stops taking medication. They may decide this doesn’t matter or they don’t want to look after their health.
Suddenly seems calm. The person seems unusually calm or happy after they have been depressed or suicidal.
How you can help
Listen carefully and ask questions without judging
- Ask the person directly “Are you thinking about killing yourself?”
- Ask if they have a plan. If yes, what is the plan?
- Do they have the means to carry it out?
- If the answer to any of these are ‘yes’, call your local mental health crisis team, or go with the person to the nearest Emergency Department. If there’s an immediate danger to the person or to others, call 111.
Who to call for help:
The NEED TO TALK helpline - Call or text 1737
Your local mental health crisis assessment team
The Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
Be supportive and stay calm
- Remove anything that they could use to take their life.
- Try to stay calm, and let them know you care.
- Talk to them, be supportive and be on their side.
- If they have thought about suicide before, ask them what in their life stopped them from following through. You might have to ask specific questions like “Tell me about your parents/ whānau/ family/ home/ children/ friends”
- Stay with them until support arrives.
Make a safety plan
- Recognise the warning signs. These might include negative thoughts, moods or changes in behaviour.
- Things that will take their mind off their problems. These might include going for a walk, listening to music, playing with a pet, or meditation.
- Social settings that provide distraction. This is about connecting with other people. It might be visiting a friend, or going to a public place like a cafe, library, or park
- People they can ask for help: Make a list of supportive people and have their contacts easily available.
- A safe environment: Remove things that the person could use to take their life.
- The Red Button - immediate contacts: A list of who to contact immediately if the person is very stressed and the situation is urgent.
- The one thing that is most important, and makes life worth living. Make a note of this and remind them of it when everything feels too much.
MORE ABOUT MAKING A SAFETY PLAN
If you have a person in urgent need of medical attention, call 111 now.
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Book a mental health first aid course
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