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Suicide Prevention 2024

 Suicide Prevention 
 _Steps to help someone thinking about suicide_

 1. Warning Signs- It includes thoughts, feelings and behaviours. Change in usual personality, change in sleeping patterns, withdrawing from family/friends / activities. Increase in risky behaviour such as substance abuse, self harm, promiscuous sex.

2. Active Listening - Just listen actively and be there for the person thinking about suicide. This has greatly helped the survivors. Offers compassion, avoid judgement, accept their feelings and validate their suffering 

3. Directly ask about suicide- Asking about suicide is not that you plant an idea in someone's mind. Directly ask the person if they are thing about suicide or if they want to kill themselves.
"Are you thinking about suicide?"
"Are you thinking of killing yourself?"

4. Safety- looking for safety reduces the danger. If they say 'YES' they are thinking about suicide, ask them if they have a plan, if they do, ask them the way they intend to use to carry out the plan.
- Remove/ lock up firearms, medications, belts, ropes, knifes and chemicals.
- Report any concerns on social media.


5. Next Action - Stay with the person in the crisis ( if it's safe for you).
- Call in a relative, family,friend, leader for support.
- Seek professional help and support.


By; Maggie Mukami.
Psychologist and a Mental Health Advocate

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