🌟 What this module is about
In this module, you will learn:
- What mental health is
- What can cause a crisis
- How to notice when someone is struggling
- How to support someone safely
- Where to refer people for help
💭 What is suicidal?
Suicidal means:
- A person is thinking about ending their life
- They may feel overwhelmed by pain or emotions
- They may feel like there is no way out
👉 People do not usually want to die
👉 They want to end their pain
⚠️ Important to understand
- It is not always easy to know why someone feels this way
- People may not understand their own feelings
- Many people hide how they feel
- Talking can help save lives
❤️ Mental health awareness
Mental health affects:
- How we think
- How we feel
- How we behave
Common mental health conditions include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Trauma-related conditions
🚨 What can lead to a crisis?
A crisis is when someone feels overwhelmed and cannot cope.
Possible causes include:
- Bullying or abuse
- Relationship or family break-up
- Death or grief
- Job loss or financial problems
- Housing problems
- Loneliness or isolation
- Mental illness
- Addiction (drugs or alcohol)
- Education stress
🔍 Signs someone may be struggling
Look for changes such as:
- Feeling anxious or restless
- Feeling stressed or overwhelmed
- Low energy or tired all the time
- Avoiding people
- Not enjoying things they used to
- Negative thoughts (e.g. “I’m useless”)
- Changes in sleep or eating
- Using more alcohol or drugs
- Not replying to messages
- Acting differently from normal
💬 How to support someone
👂 Listen carefully
- Let them talk freely
- Do not interrupt
- Give them your full attention
- Show you are listening
⏳ Give time
- Do not rush them
- Silence is okay
- Let them speak at their own pace
❓ Ask gentle questions
Examples:
- “How are you feeling?”
- “What is happening for you right now?”
- “Do you want to talk about it?”
🔄 Check understanding
- Repeat what they say
- Make sure you understand correctly
🚫 Do NOT:
- Judge them
- Blame them
- Call them selfish
- Interrupt them
- Force them to talk
🧠 Key message
- People may feel scared to talk
- People may fear judgement
- People choose who they talk to
👉 Your role is to support, not force
⚖️ Balancing safety
You must think about:
- The person’s safety
- Your own safety
If you are worried about danger:
- Stay calm
- Do not leave the person alone if they are at risk
- Get help
🚨 When to act immediately
Call emergency services (911 in the U.S.) if:
- The person is in immediate danger
- They have a plan to harm themselves
- They are about to act on a plan
🛑 Remove danger if safe to do so
-
Remove access to:
- Pills
- Knives
- Guns
- Other harmful objects
🧭 Referral: where to get help
You do not have to do this alone.
Useful services:
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- Samaritans
- Local mental health crisis teams
- GP / doctor
- Mental health professionals
🧩 What is a crisis situation?
A crisis is when someone is:
- Not able to cope
- Feeling overwhelmed
- At risk of harm to themselves or others
Examples:
- Severe anxiety or depression
- Suicide risk
- Domestic violence
- Homelessness
- Financial crisis
- Abuse
🤝 Types of crisis you may support
You may support people with:
- Money problems
- Relationship issues
- Housing problems
- Bullying or abuse
- Mental health crisis
- Addiction
- Grief or loss
❗ Important reminder
- You are not expected to fix everything
- You are not a therapist
- You are there to support and guide
🗣️ Communication tips
- Let the person do most of the talking
- Do not rush
- Do not interrupt
- Be patient
- Respect silence
📝 Reflecting and checking
- Repeat what you heard
- Write notes if needed
- Check understanding with the person
⚠️ If you are unsure
If you are worried:
👉 It is always better to ask for help
👉 It is better to act early than too late
💡 Key message
- Everyone is different
- Some people talk easily
- Some people need time
- Some people may never open up
👉 But support can still make a difference
🌈 Final message
- Be kind
- Be patient
- Listen without judging
- Encourage help
- Stay safe
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