Ontario Association for Suicide Prevention Inc.

Education

After A Suicide Loss: A Toolkit For Schools

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has developed, in consultation with national experts, a toolkit to help schools cope in the aftermath of a suicide.

This free online resource is a highly-practical resource for schools facing real-time crises, and is applicable for diverse populations and communities. It includes general guidelines for action, do’s and don’ts, templates and sample materials, and covers topics such as Crisis Response, Working with the Community, Memorialization, Social Media, Suicide Contagion and Bringing in Outside Help. Visit www.afsp.org/schools to download the Toolkit and learn about other American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) programs and resources for schools.

Please email Rebecca Thorp at rthorp@afsp.org if you have any questions, or call 212-363-3500, ext. 33.

Responding To A Suicidal Person

Start the process of talking and reaching out. Find out about the person’s feelings.

Ask direct questions such as ‘Are you considering suicide?’ ‘Do you have a plan for how you will kill yourself?’ The more realistic, specific and lethal the plan, the greater the risk. Take the answers seriously and listen and watch for potential signals.

	Be a supportive listener. Accept the person’s feelings instead of minimizing or judging them. Tell them it is okay to feel the way they do. Try to understand things from their perspective. Avoid joking around or acting shocked.
	Offer help. Let the person know you care and want to help. Be there to listen, support and encourage them to get the help they need. Keep in mind that it isn’t your job to fix their life or solve their problems.
	Help them help themselves. Suggest people they can talk to, such as a parent or relative, close friend, teacher, counsellor, doctor, or nurse. If they won’t get help for themselves, get it for them. Tell someone you can trust.
	Call a Crisis or Distress Centre. Crisis and Distress Centres give support and information to people in distress, as well as to the friends and family who care about them. Anyone who is suicidal needs the help of a professional and a Crisis and Distress Centre can provide appropriate information.
	Be firm and be focused. Never promise to keep a suicide plan secret. Never dare a person or say you don’t believe them. Never leave a high risk person alone without making sure that they have help.

How To Remember The Warning Signs

Here’s an Easy-to-Remember Mnemonic provided by the American Association for Suicidology:

IS PATH WARM?