Don't be afraid to ask... 'Are you feeling suicidal?'

Don’t be afraid to use the ‘s’ word when talking with someone who hasn’t been feeling their usual self. Suicide is often a word that people are hesitant and scared to use. Will talking about suicide put an idea in somebody’s head and make them more likely to act on it? No. ‘Are you feeling suicidal?’ ‘Have you been having suicidal thoughts?’ ‘Are you thinking about taking your own life?’ Asking any of those three questions can really help the conversation turn a corner. Did you know that people who are feeling suicidal can find it very hard to bring it up and talk about it first because of fear how others will react? Talking openly and honestly about suicidal thoughts and feelings can help save a life. Three courses that I, personally, cannot recommend ENOUGH: Mental Health First Aid, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training and safeTALK (suicide alertness for everybody). How comfortable do you feel talking about suicide?

#thewellnest #whalley #suicidetalk