It can be scary when a friend or loved one is thinking about suicide. Help is available.
If someone you know has any warning signs please seek help. For assistance, you can come to the counseling center during initial consultation hours for a consultation with a counselor. You can also call the Lifeline 24/7 at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or reach them by chat . Most importantly, please encourage your friend to seek counseling and provide them with the Lifeline number 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or information for Crisis Textline (text HOME to 741741).
The best thing you can do is walk your friend to the Counseling and Psychological Services Center in the Miles Annas building during business hours (Monday-Friday 8am-5pm), as recent suicidal thoughts are considered an emergency. After hours, on weekends or during breaks, you may call Counseling and Psychological Services at (828) 262-3180 and select the option to speak to the counselor on call.
If you think someone you know is considering suicide, apply the A.P.P.S. Cares Intervention. This intervention outlines the steps you should take when talking to a friend about suicide.
Approach and Acknowledge: Tolerate your own anxiety and awkwardness. Be specific about what you notice.
Probe: Show that you care by asking questions.
Promote Hope: Listen and let the student know that they are not alone.
Share Referrals: Share referrals with the student. Form a safety net. Share with your support network.
See what applying the APPS intervention looks like:
Online training on applying the A.P.P.S. steps is available 24/7. In-Person training for groups of 10 people or more is available by request.
When you find out that a loved one had attempted suicide, you may feel overwhelmed with questions. Why didn’t they come to me? What did I miss? And most perplexing, What do I do now? The Lifeline asked people to recall the aftermath of their attempts to give you some insight into what they wanted and needed from their friends and family following their darkest moments. While there’s no formula or one-size-fits-all answer, we hope learning from these attempt survivors will help you feel confident in supporting your loved one.
