Supporting someone sharing suicidal distress online

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supporting someone sharing suicidal distress online

Learn how you can offer support to someone sharing thoughts and feelings of suicide on social media.

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How can I support someone sharing suicidal distress online?

Here are a few things you can do:

If there is immediate danger to their life:

If the person is not at immediate risk:

Here are a few things you can do:

Contact them in private (DM/PM). Mention their post and specify why you are worried about them. Ask them directly if they are thinking of suicide. For example, you could say

“I just wanted to check in, because you posted …., and I am worried about you. It sounds like you might be thinking of suicide, is that the case?”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“Hi….! Your post really concerned me. I would like to help you if you would like.”

If the person is not at immediate risk:

Ask them if they would like to talk to you about it. Sometimes they might say no to your help, so it is best to not pressurize them. Let them know you are there if needed and they can talk to you whenever they feel comfortable.
Ask them if they would like to seek support services (such as crisis helplines, mental health services, online counseling, etc.). If the person agrees, provide the relevant information.
Follow up later over text or phone call to check if they are safe.

It can be discomforting to be in this situation and you may feel like the onus of saving this person’s life is on you. This is a natural feeling, and there are 2 ways to respond to it. You may have feelings of fear, discomfort, and even helplessness. It is helpful to keep yourself grounded so you can support yourself and be fully present to the other person’s distress. At the same time, it is also necessary to keep in mind that you are not responsible for a person’s decision.

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Testimonials

The peer supporter was very supportive and reassured me exactly how I wanted to be reassured.

Outlive chat support seeker

She helped me out; she is a good one who supported me when I was feeling lonely. Now I am feeling good because of that peer, thanks to this platform!

Outlive chat Support seeker

The volunteering brought a sense of purpose and despite the limited people I could help through the platform, I know the learnings will remain for life. I try to utilize them in my everyday conversations and focus on my own well-being through self-care.

Outlive peer supporter (volunteering feedback)

For me it was an eye-opener about how mental health is connected to suicide.

Outlive YASP Fellow

The workshops were engaging, and the team was very open. I got to learn alot from the other mentors and the collaborative process really added to the learning. The workshops provided structure and a lot of clarity for the project and the expectations and now I am eager to take this forward.

Outlive peer supporter (training feedback)

This program helped me to look past the preconceived notions and misinformation regarding suicide prevention and gain an evidence-based understanding of the struggles and factors affecting suicide especially in young adults. The facilitators were very knowledgeable and created a safe space for the supporters to ask questions and resolve doubts. The in-depth approach really helped me imbibe the training given and use it effectively

Outlive peer supporter (training feedback)

I learnt how to be more empathetic and also got a real picture of how events can affect individuals. It's hard to accept when one hasn't experienced similar events, but the impact can be detrimental, and in those times it's important to reach out to a safe space. Outlive does that.

Outlive peer supporter (volunteering feedback)

Made me very independent and direct - confident - we were able to highlight the points that we wanted implemented. YASP gave us this empowerment to do it as youth - empowered us to speak in front of these policymakers.

Outlive YASP Fellow