Objectives
By the end of this module you will be able to:
- Help someone connect to 988, 911, and other support.
- Describe the basic parts of a safety plan.
- Support safer surroundings in plain, non-detailed ways.
Lesson
Connecting to help
- Immediate danger: call 911. Stay with the person if it is safe for you.
- Thoughts of suicide or emotional crisis (US): call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can make the call together. Veterans can dial 988 then press 1.
- Ongoing support: encourage them to talk with a doctor or a licensed mental health professional, and offer to help find one or go along.
Offer practical help: sitting with them during a call, giving a ride, or helping them write down questions.
What a safety plan is
A safety plan is a short, personal list a person makes, ideally with a professional, to use when thoughts of suicide come. It often includes:
- Their own warning signs that a hard time is starting.
- Things they can do on their own to get through a wave of distress.
- People and places that help them feel connected.
- People they can ask for help.
- Professionals and crisis lines, including 988 and 911.
- Steps to make their surroundings safer.
- Reasons for living, in their own words.
As a supporter, you are not the person's clinician. You can encourage them to make a plan with a professional, help them keep it somewhere easy to find, and be one of the people on it.
Safer surroundings
Putting time and distance between a person in crisis and anything they could use to harm themselves can save lives. In plain terms, this can mean asking a trusted person to hold onto certain items for a while, or helping store things away. A professional or 988 can talk this through with you. This program does not discuss methods.
Staying connected
After the first conversation, keep showing up. Text, visit, and invite. Connection over time is one of the most powerful kinds of support.
GGN practiceMy connection card (about 10 minutes)
On a small card or in your phone, write: 988 (call or text), 911, two people you could call for support, and one local place to find help. Save it where you can find it fast.
Fictional storyFictional Story 4.1: Making the call together
After Dana agreed, Keisha sat beside her while she texted 988. Later, Dana made an appointment with her doctor, and Keisha offered to drive. Dana listed Keisha as one of her people.
Discussion: Keisha connected Dana to help, encouraged ongoing care, and stayed present, without trying to be Dana's clinician.
Reflection Prompts
- Who are the people and places on your own list?
- What practical help could you offer someone reaching out for support?