Suicide prevention

University can be a challenging place and it is normal for many students to experience periods when they feel sad and discouraged. However, sometimes these feelings can be overwhelming and at times may lead to thoughts of suicide.

Contact a mental health professional or call 1 800 SUICIDE (1 800 784 2433) immediately if you or someone you know exhibits one or more of the following:

• threatening to hurt or kill themselves, or talking of wanting to hurt or kill themselves;
• looking for ways to kill themselves by trying to get firearms, pills, or other potentially lethal instruments; and/or,
• talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide (if these are out of the ordinary for the person).

Contact a mental health professional or call 1 800 SUICIDE (1 800 784 2433) as soon as possible if you or someone you know exhibits one or more of the following:

• feeling hopeless;
• feeling rage or uncontrolled anger, and seeking revenge;
• acting reckless or engaging in risky activities, seemingly without thinking;
• feeling trapped, as if there were “no way out”;
• using alcohol or drugs increasingly;
• withdrawing from friends, family, and society;
• experiencing anxiety, agitation, or sleeplessness, or sleeping all the time;
• having dramatic mood changes; and/or,
• feeling that there is no reason for living and having no sense of purpose in life.

You can talk about it

It’s okay to ask someone if they are thinking about suicide. Asking about suicide and talking about difficult feelings is not going to increase the risk of someone attempting to harm themselves or dying by suicide.

The majority of people who feel suicidal exhibit warning signs. They want and need help.

Let your friend know that you support them

Let your friend know that they are not alone, and that you have had difficulties too. However, you may not be able to understand what your friend is going through, so don’t simplify the problem by looking through the lens of your own experience.

Encourage your friend to see a health care professional

If he or she refuses to see someone who specializes in mental health, encourage your friend to see a family doctor.

Offer to come to the appointment or just to the doctor’s office. If your friend is uncomfortable or unable to communicate the problem, offer to do it for him or her.

Make sure to communicate that getting help is not weak

Many people will deny that they need help, believing that they should be able to cope on their own, but this is a false and harmful belief; true strength is admitting that you need help.

Call crisis lines

Crisis lines are free and confidential 24-hour distress lines that provide non-judgmental support and resources:

• Toll free from anywhere in BC: 1 800 SUICIDE (1 800 784 2433)
• TTY: 1 866 872 0113
• Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of British Columbia provides links for 24/7 distress telephone and on-line support services. It offers information on suicide and other mental health concerns.