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Information and guidance for anyone who knows and is supporting someone feeling suicidal.
Ways to support someone who is feeling suicidal
- Encourage them to talk about their feelings
- Be direct and ask if they are thinking about suicide
- Remember that talking about suicide does not increase the risk of it
- Be there for them, but acknowledge your limitations and signpost to professional support
- Look after yourself - helping someone else can expose you to feelings you may not have experienced before and this can be tough
What to do if you're a fellow student or a friend
You can be there for your friend and help them stay connected and involved with study and activities. Feeling connected with others can reduce the risk of suicide.
Even if you are unsure of the seriousness of the situation, if a fellow student mentions that they're feeling suicidal, please contact UCL's Student Support and Wellbeing. A member of our team will be able to provide you with advice and guidance on how best to support them and will be able to refer them on to seek professional help.
If you live in halls of residence, you have access to an additional network of support in the form of Wardens and Student Residence Advisers (SRAs).
What to do if you're a UCL staff member
Asking a student if they have suicidal thoughts and hearing about their emotions and feelings can be difficult. You may feel out of your comfort zone, unsure if you’ve said the right thing or very concerned about their wellbeing and safety.
It is important to focus on being compassionate and accepting of what the student is saying and how they may be feeling rather than on saying the right thing. There isn’t one best way to respond, but showing care and understanding is always helpful.
Signposting the student to professional support is essential. You can also contact Student Support and Wellbeing for advice and guidance or submit a Student of Concern form.
It is also important to look for support for yourself which is available through Occupational Health and Wellbeing.
You may also find this guide on how to support students' mental health and wellbeing more generally to be a useful resource.
What to do if you're a parent or a family member
It can be very distressing to learn that your child or a close relation may be feeling suicidal. It is important to remember that this is common and one in four young people experience thoughts of suicide. These thoughts can be triggered by a number of different experiences, such as moving to a new place, new friends, and worries about study and/or employment.
It is important to be there for them and to encourage them to access professional support as soon as possible.
You can also contact Student Support and Wellbeing for advice and guidance or submit a Student of Concern form.
Talking about suicidal feelings
Talking to an empathetic listener can be very helpful for someone experiencing suicidal thoughts. You don't need any special training to show someone you care about them, which you can do by having a supportive conversation.
Where possible, try to:
- Ask open questions - invite the person to say more than 'yes' or 'no' by asking questions such as 'How have you been feeling?'
- Give them time - let the person go at a pace that's comfortable for them
- Take them seriously - it's important to take anyone expressing suicidal feelings seriously and help them feel that they are being heard
- Be non-judgmental - it's important not to blame the person for how they are feeling, even if you feel shocked, upset or frightened
- Not skirt around the topic - talking about suicide is still often taboo, but direct questions such as 'Are you having suicidal thoughts?' or 'Have you felt like you want to end your life?' can be very helpful
Remember, you do not have to have the conversation if you don't feel comfortable doing so and you can always signpost to others. You're not expected to have all the answers.
Suicide awareness and prevention training
We can all help save lives and would benefit from some basic training on suicide awareness. Take this 'Let's Talk' online training course from Zero Suicide Alliance course and make a difference.
The training course takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.
Useful resources and training
Stay Alive app
A free Apple or Android app that provides access to national helplines, a personalised mini-safety plan, and guidance on how to help others who may be suicidal.
Jason Foundation - 'A Friend Asks' app
A free information and resources app for Apple and Android to help yourself or to prevent the suicide of someone you know. Includes a ‘Get Support Now’ section for crisis situations.
'Let's Talk' suicide awareness training
This is a free training course from Zero Suicide Alliance focussing on suicide awareness, including the following:
- How to spot the signs
- How to have a conversation about suicide using scenarios
- Personal stories to further reinforce the importance of being suicide aware
The training takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.
Public Health England (PHE) e-module
This new training resource hopes to raise vital awareness of suicide for the wider public health workforce, including those in health, social care, the charitable sector and the public. This e-learning package provides information about suicide and what we can do to help prevent it.
Launched on World Mental Health Day on 10 October, the 'We Need to Talk about Suicide' initiative, developed jointly by Health Education England and PHE highlights the impact of suicide on individuals, families and communities.
Everyone has a role to play in asking about suicide – and you don’t need to be an expert in mental health to do it. If you are worried about someone don’t be afraid to talk to them, you won’t make things worse, and you can only help.
The training takes approximately 1 hour to complete.