In honor of September’s Suicide Prevention Month, #BeThe1To play a role in suicide prevention. The Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s 5 steps of #BeThe1To can help someone in crisis and save lives. Learn more about #BeThe1To by visiting bethe1to.com.
#BeThe1To Ask
Ask the tough question.
When somebody you know is in emotional pain, ask that person directly: “Are you thinking about killing yourself?”
#BeThe1To BeThere
If your friend is thinking about suicide, listen to their reasons for feeling hopeless and in pain. Listen with compassion and empathy and empathy and without dismissing or judging.
#BeThe1To Keep Them Safe
Is your friend thinking about suicide? Ask if they’ve thought about how they would do it and separate them from anything they could use to hurt themselves.
#BeThe1To Help Them Connect
Help your friend connect to a support system, whether its 800-273-TALK(8255), our free mental health support service 844-HERE4MN, family, friends, clergy, coaches, co-workers, or therapists, so they have a network to reach out to for help.
#BeThe1To Follow Up
Check-in with the person you care about on a regular basis. Making contact with a friend in the days and weeks after a crisis can make a difference in keeping them alive.