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ASPF Australian Suicide
Prevention Foundation

Can your friend stay safe?

This is the point where you can assess if you need to get more help: Ask your friend if they can agree with you to ‘stay safe’ for an agreed period of time. This can be any time that you can agree. If they can’t agree a week, ask them if they can stay safe for a day. If they can’t commit to that try

Clinically reviewed
  • Depression
  • Fighting Suicidal Thoughts
  • Stopping Thoughts of Suicide
  • Overcoming Your Plan to Commit Suicide
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  • LGBTQI
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  • Multiple Comments & Suggestions
  • No One Will Miss Me
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  • Things that help now
  • Disable their plan
  • Warning signs
  • What or How to Ask
  • Things that help now
  • Persevere
  • Offering Support
  • Consider Medical Or Professional Help
  • Here are some questions to ask and how to provide support for someone who is in crisis
  • Do You Have A Suicidal Friend?
  • Dealing with Suicidal Threats or Ideations. Are You Worried About A Friend?
  • Can your friend stay safe?
  • Schizophrenia
  • Teenagers & Young Adults
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  • Teen Suicide Prevention
  • Women

    • This is the point where you can assess if you need to get more help: Ask your friend if they can agree with you to ‘stay safe’ for an agreed period of time. This can be any time that you can agree. If they can’t agree a week, ask them if they can stay safe for a day. If they can’t commit to that try agreeing on one hour. If they can’t make what you believe is a genuine commitment to you that they will stick to, it is time to call in help immediately.

    Be honest and say ‘Look I’m worried now that you are going to harm yourself, I’m going to call for help from a professional counsellor/police/doctor,  I’ll stay with you until they arrive.” Stay with them or bring them with you to a phone and make the call.

    Disable Their Plan

    If your friend tell you they have made a plan to harm themselves make sure that it is disabled and made safe.

    Go with them and get them to give you the pills/rope/bullets/car keys/knife and put them out of reach. Leaving a few tablets to go asleep may be reasonable.

    Clinically reviewed. This article was written and reviewed by the clinical team at the Australian Suicide Prevention Foundation.

    Important: This information is general guidance and does not replace professional medical advice. If you are in crisis, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 000 for immediate danger.