Suicide Prevention, Awareness, Resources & Education

IERHA Crisis Services Contact Information

Provincial Crisis Resources

Being Suicide Aware – Suicide Warning Signs

Take any suicidal talk or behavior seriously. It’s not just a warning sign that the person is thinking about suicide—it’s a cry for help.

Most suicidal individuals give warning signs or signals of their intentions. The best way to prevent suicide is to recognize these warning signs and know how to respond if you spot them. Below are examples of some suicide warning signs:

Talking About Suicide: Any talk about suicide, dying, or self-harm, such as “I wish I hadn’t been born,” “If I see you again…” and “I’d be better off dead.”

Seeking out Lethal Means: Seeking access to guns, pills, knives, or other objects that could be used in a suicide attempt.

Preoccupation with Death: Unusual focus on death, dying, or violence. Writing poems or stories about death.

No Hope for the Future: Feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and being trapped (“There’s no way out”). Belief that things will never get better or change.

Self-Loathing, Self-Hatred: Feelings of worthlessness, guilt, shame, and self-hatred. Feeling like a burden (“Everyone would be better off without me”).

Getting Affairs in Order: Making out a will. Giving away prized possessions. Making arrangements for family members.

Saying Goodbye: Unusual or unexpected visits or calls to family and friends. Saying goodbye to people as if they won’t be seen again.

Withdrawing from Others: Withdrawing from friends and family. Increasing social isolation. Desire to be left alone.

Self-Destructive Behavior: Increased alcohol or drug use, reckless driving, unsafe sex. Taking unnecessary risks as if they have a “death wish.”

Sudden Sense of Calm: A sudden sense of calm and happiness after being extremely depressed can mean that the person has made a decision to attempt suicide.

Being Suicide Aware – Suicide Risk Factors

Common Suicide Risk Factors:

• A prior suicide attempt, family history of suicide
• Mental Illness, terminal illness, or chronic pain
• Substance use
• Trauma, history of trauma or abuse
• Social isolation and loneliness
• Grief and loss
• Stressful life events

What can keep someone contemplating suicide safe: 

• Positive mental health
• Asking for help
• Having positive coping strategies (e.g. exercising, calling a friend, listening to music, etc.) 

How to help someone contemplating suicide: 

• Asking the individual, “Are you having thoughts of suicide”. This will not put ideas into their head, but will allow you to identify if they are at risk of suicide (Source: National Institute of Mental Health)
• Being accepting and non-judgmental
• Taking threats seriously
• Staying calm and listening 
• For more suicide prevention and risk information visit the Government of Canada’s website.

Suicide Prevention Tips

Tip #1: Speak Up if You’re Worried
If you spot the warning signs of suicide in someone you care about, you may wonder if it’s a good idea to say anything. What if you’re wrong? What if the person gets angry? In such situations, it’s natural to feel uncomfortable or afraid. But anyone who talks about suicide or shows other warning signs needs immediate help—the sooner the better.

Ways to start a conversation about suicide:

• “I have been feeling concerned about you lately.”
• “Recently, I’ve noticed some differences in you and wondered how you are doing.”
• “I wanted to check in with you because you haven’t seemed yourself lately.”

Questions you can ask:

“When did you begin feeling like this?”

“Did something happen to make you start feeling this way?”

“How can I best support you right now?”

“Have you thought about getting help?”

What you can say that helps:

“You are not alone in this. I’m here for you.”

“You may not believe it now, but the way you’re feeling will change.”

“I may not be able to understand exactly how you feel, but I care about you and want to help.”

“When you want to give up, tell yourself you will hold off for just one more day, hour, minute—whatever you can manage.”

TIP #2: Respond Quickly in a Crisis

If a friend or family member tells you that they’re thinking about death or suicide, it’s important to evaluate the immediate danger the person is in. Asking the following questions can help you assess the immediate risk for suicide:

Do you have a suicide plan? (PLAN)

• Do you have what you need to carry out your plan (pills, gun, etc.)? (MEANS)
• Do you know when you would do it? (TIME SET)
• Do you intend to take your own life? (INTENTION)

Level of suicide risk:

• LOW: Some suicidal thought. No suicide plan. The person says they won’t attempt suicide.
• MODERATE: Suicidal thoughts. Vague plan that isn’t very lethal. Says they won’t attempt suicide.
• HIGH: Suicidal thoughts. Specific plan that is highly lethal. Says they won’t attempt suicide.
• SEVERE: Suicidal thoughts. Specific plan that is highly lethal. The person says they will attempt suicide.

If a suicide attempt seems imminent, call a local crisis center, phone emergency services (911) or take the person to an emergency room. Do not leave a suicidal person alone.

Tip #3: Offer Help and Support

To help a suicidal person:

Get Professional Help: Call a crisis line for support and referrals. Encourage the person to see a mental health professional, or take them to a doctor’s appointment.

Remove Potential Means of Suicide: Such as pills, knives, razors, or firearms. Keep medications locked away or give them out only as the person needs them.

Make a Safety Plan: Help the person develop a set of steps they promise to follow during a suicidal crisis. It should identify any triggers that may lead to a suicidal crisis, such as an anniversary of a loss, alcohol, or stress from relationships. Also include contact numbers for the person’s doctor or therapist, as well as friends and family members who will help in an emergency.

Remove potential means of suicide, such as pills, knives, razors, or firearms. If the person is likely to take an overdose, keep medications locked away or give them out only as the person needs them.

For more information on Suicide Prevention, visit Preventing-Suicide-NTNL-brochure-2014-web.pdf

Keeping Yourself Safe – Developing a Safety Plan

A safety plan can help keep you safe, if you are feeling overwhelmed and/or having thoughts of ending your life.  During a time when you are feeling calm, try answering these questions that ask about triggers and stresses, and possible ways to cope, so that if you are faced with a stress later on, you will have some ideas to try out. As you learn more about what works or doesn’t work, it’s natural that the safety plan will change and improve over time.  Ask your support network (such as trusted adults, parents, relatives) to take a look at the plan, so that they can support you. Work through the following questions to develop your own safety plan:

1. What are my triggers and stressors?
2. My warning signs:
   • What are my warning signs that tell me I am starting to get overwhelmed?
     • Thoughts (i.e., thinking negatively)
     • Emotions (i.e., feeling mad, sad, irritable)
     • Body sensations (i.e., head starts to hurt, feeling sick to my stomach)
     • Behaviours (i.e., withdrawing from other people, sleeping all the time)
   • What can others do if I am getting overwhelmed? (i.e. listen, emphasize and validate, don’t get upset with me, etc.)
3. My Coping and Distraction Strategies:
   • When I’m starting to get upset, what are some helpful things that will help me cope, or take my mind off the problem? (i.e., going for a walk, calling a close friend to just vent, watching a movie, sleeping)
   • When I am completely overwhelmed, what helps? (i.e., going to my room and having a good cry)
4. Reasons for living:
   • Who are the people or creatures I live for? (i.e., parent, sibling, relative, friend, pets)
   • What are other things I have to live for? (for example: remembering that things will get better one day, future goals like school, career, travel or family goals) 
   • Sometimes, when people are feeling sad, they have a hard time seeing the reasons for living. If this is the case for you right now, what are some reasons that others might point out for you?  
5. Supports
   • Who can I turn to for support?
     • People that can help distract me
     • People that can listen to me and accept me no matter what
     • People that can help me with practical things (i.e., taking me to appointments)
6. Crisis Supports
   • In case of a crisis, who can I call?
     • For children/youth: A parent, trusted adult or professional/crisis support like KidsHelpPhone 1-800-668-6868.
     • For Adults: A family member, friend or professional/crisis support (find crisis services here http://suicideprevention.ca/need-help/ or by calling 211)

If you follow your safety plan and still do not feel safe, call a crisis line, get yourself to a hospital emergency room, or call 911.

Access a free printable, PDF safety plan template here: My Safety Plan : Canada : eMentalHealth.ca

Suicide Awareness Education

Government of Canada suicide infographic 

Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP) 

Changing Directions, Changing Lives: The Mental Health Strategy For Canada

Coping Strategies 

Living Works 

Mental Health Facts for Adults 

Mental Health Facts for Youth 

Suicide Prevention Resources

Your family, friends, neighbours, teachers

They can be a great resource and someone to talk to. If they are unable to help, they may be able to support you in connecting with a professional or crisis support you can speak with. 

Links

211 Manitoba Resources to help you understand and move through grief.

5 Things Suicide Loss Survivors Should Know – From Someone Who’s AttemptedHow we see the world shapes who we choose to be — and sharing compelling experiences can frame the way we treat each other, for the better. This is a powerful perspective..

After an Attempt This link contains a resource for taking care of a family member once discharged from the hospital after an attempt.

Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP) An organization that “provides advocacy, communication, and resources on suicide prevention and life promotion.”

Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) CMHA provides advocacy and resources that help to prevent mental health problems and illnesses, support recovery and resilience, and enable all Canadians to flourish and thrive.” Along with resources, this website contains a registration hub for numerous free courses that can be taken virtually or in-person.

Centre for Suicide Prevention

Depression – The Life Line Canada Offers access and guidance and support for those suffering in crisis and those who have suffered the devastating loss of a loved one from suicide.

Family Doctor Finder Call or register online for help in finding a primary health care provider.

Kids Help Phone Call 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) or text CONNECT to 686868. Available 24 hours a day to Canadians aged 5 to 29 who want confidential and anonymous care from professional counsellors. This website also includes resources on a variety of topics

Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) Innovative programs and tools to support the mental health and wellness of Canadians.

Mental Health Education Resource Centre of Manitoba Physical and electronic library with a collection of books, audio books, videos, journals, presentation kits, courses, and newsletters on various mental health and wellness topics. Free, but a membership is required to access library.

Reason to Live Call 1-877-435-7170 if you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or feelings, are concerned about a friend, family, or co-worker, or have been impacted by a suicide loss or suicide attempt. This website also offers tips for helping someone who is experiencing suicidal thoughts and for suicide bereavement.

Apps

Hope by CAMH (suicide safety planning) Hope by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health is a free smartphone app that provides suicide prevention information, tools and crisis resources to support and guide individuals when they are experiencing thoughts of suicide.

The LifeLine A free Suicide Prevention and Awareness App that offers access and guidance to support for those suffering in crisis and those who have suffered the devastating loss of a loved one from suicide.

Kids Help Phone The Kids Help Phone site provides options to connect with other youth and access support forums & real-life stories. Get crisis support right now via text.

Videos

The Language of Suicide – YouTube videos offered in English, Ojibwe, Cree and Oji-Cree. Choose the video with your preferred language.

English

Ojibwe

Cree

Oji-Cree