If you believe someone is in immediate danger, contact local emergency services. If you or someone you know needs immediate support, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
START THE CONVERSATION
Starting a conversation about mental health can feel uncomfortable, especially if you’re unsure what to say. You don’t need the perfect words—what matters most is listening without judgment and letting the person know they’re not alone. A supportive conversation can help someone feel seen, heard, and supported.
If you spot warning signs, it’s time to talk.
Validate their emotions
Don’t downplay how someone is feeling. Everyone’s emotions are valid and it’s important that they feel heard.
avoid arguing & advice
Steer clear of debating whether life is worth living. If someone is nearing a crisis, they might not be thinking clearly, and these philosophical debates usually aren't helpful.
Also, resist the urge to offer advice on how to "fix" things. If someone was having a heart attack—you wouldn’t tell them to start exercising or eat better right then. The same goes for mental health distress or crisis.
Remember your role
Remember that you're not a mental health professional. Your role is to listen and encourage them to reach out to the resources or support they need. If they're in crisis, they need to be heard and connected to help.
As trust builds, you may be able to help explore what support or care could be helpful next.
How to Bring It Up
Start with something supportive, like:
I care about you
You matter to me
I’ve missed seeing you
Share what you’ve observed, like:
I've noticed you haven't been yourself lately. You seem more [example: frustrated] than you've been in a while
You don’t seem like yourself. I wonder if what’s happening [example: at school] is making you feel [example: anxious]
Ask an open-ended question, like:
I wonder how you’re doing
Is everything okay?
I wonder if you’re feeling [example: overwhelmed]
Then Listen. Really Listen.
Ask open-ended questions. Be an active and empathetic listener. Pay attention to warning signs.
Reinforce your care and your desire for their safety.
if they seem unsafe, ask this.
While some people worry that asking someone about suicide will put the idea in their head, or push them to action, research shows this is not true. If you think someone’s considering suicide, trust your gut and ask them directly. “Are you thinking of ending your life?” or "Are you thinking about suicide?”
Then What?
If they share that they're not thinking about suicide but are having a tough time with their mental health, keep listening and offering support.
Here are a few things you can say to help:
"I'm sorry you're hurting so much."
"I care about you and want you to be safe."
“I want to help you find the help you need.”
f someone shares with you that they're thinking about suicide, remember to stay calm. Just because they're having these thoughts doesn't mean they're in immediate danger. Take a moment to listen calmly and ask a few follow-up questions to understand more.
You could ask things like:
“Do you have a plan to end your life?”
"Do you have a (method)? "Do you have that available?"
"Can you give that to me or someone until you get through this difficult time?”
“I want you to be here and will help you.”