AFSP works to prevent suicide through strategies that address risk factors and warning signs. These include gatekeeper training, suicide screening and teaching coping skills to help people in crisis.
Reduce access to lethal means, including medication such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Encourage a person to make a suicide plan and keep them connected with resources such as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988).
1. Identify People at Risk
Suicide is one of the top causes of death in America. It’s important to know the warning signs, so that you can help someone who is at risk.
The first step is to ask – in an open and supportive way – if the person you care about is having thoughts of suicide. Studies show that asking does not increase the likelihood of suicide, and it can help someone get the help they need.
Some people are more at risk for suicide, and there may be a reason why. They could have experienced a recent trauma or major life crisis like the death of a loved one, serious illness, relationship breakup, or financial hardship. They might also have a plan to kill themselves, such as a specific date and method (like a gun) and might be making preparations like writing a will or cleaning up their home.
Community-based programs like suicide prevention coalitions, mental health and substance use screening in schools or primary care offices, and support services for high-risk populations can all help identify people at risk and connect them to immediate help. These programs can also support a sense of connectedness, which is another protective factor against suicide.
2. Create Supportive Relationships
Suicide is often caused by a combination of risk factors, including mental illness and difficult life events. People who have access to effective clinical care, support services, and social connections are less likely to act on suicidal thoughts.
While it can be difficult to know how to respond when someone you care about is exhibiting warning signs, talking openly and compassionately may help them get the help they need. Educating people about the risk of suicide, what to look out for, and how to help can encourage them to seek treatment.
This can include reducing access to weapons and other potentially harmful substances, providing regular check-ins with someone who is at risk of taking their own life, and being available for crisis calls. It’s also important to follow up with a person who is at risk and make sure they are receiving the proper treatment, which includes staying away from “triggers” that can worsen their symptoms such as certain music, photos or movies.
3. Build Community Connectedness
Upstream interventions address the root causes of suicide by supporting a sense of belonging. This can be done by promoting community connectedness through community events and outreach, creating community-based peer norm programs, and training community members on how to recognize warning signs and respond.
Connectivity can be fostered in many different ways, including expanding volunteer opportunities for youth and adults, providing peer-led support groups, and encouraging participation in school or community activities. Community leaders and schools can also help promote awareness by teaching their peers how to talk about suicide and addressing common misconceptions.
Suicide is a tragedy that impacts not only those who attempt or die, but their families, friends and entire communities as well. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Prevention Institute developed resources and hosted webinars for communities on how to strengthen protective factors like connectedness and resilience by incorporating them into their existing suicide and ACEs prevention initiatives. These strategies are included in the suicide prevention technical package and ACEs resource guide.
4. Encourage Communication
A key to prevention is the ability for people to talk openly about suicide. Some fear that talking about suicide might lead to an attempt or death, but research shows that the opposite is true – people are more likely to seek help if they feel safe talking about suicide.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides information about how to talk to someone about suicide and how to respond to a suicide attempt or death. The Mindframe public messaging resource is designed to support a people-first approach and provide guidance on how to communicate about suicide in ways that are consistent with behavior change science, and that consider the impacts on individuals.
Signs on the Golden Gate Bridge and other transit systems promote a suicide hotline, as well as 24/7 crisis text lines. This and other measures aim to reduce access to lethal means of suicide. Studies show that when lethal methods are less accessible, suicide attempts by those same means often decrease – a phenomenon called method substitution.