Suicide prevention starts with recognising the warning signs and taking them seriously. Common warning signs include:
These warning signs can indicate that a person may need help, please read the following information below to find out what to do, and where to access help.
To help anyone who comes into contact with someone they think is at risk of suicide.
If you meet someone who presents a risk of suicide it’s best to talk to the person to find out their plans and intentions, then signpost to relevant support. See Guidance on the use of language.
If the person has a specific plan and the means to carry out that plan and take their own life, then they need urgent help – please refer to page 3 for list of services under ‘URGENT ’.
If you think they are not in immediate danger, but could still benefit from some support for low mood, anxiety or depression then talk to them about the support highlighted on Step 3.
| Urgent | If someone is in immediate danger or has harmed themselves, call 999 and ask for an ambulance or take them to A&E. If you need help fast but don’t think it is a 999 emergency, call 111 or make an urgent appointment with a GP. |
| Crisis support | If they need immediate mental health support, encourage them to ring Samaritans 116 123, open 24/7 or North Lincolnshire Single Point of Access: advice line for routine and urgent referrals and enquiries TEL: 08000150211 The individual can also text Shout on 85258. |
| North Lincolnshire Mental Health Support |
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| Other Mental Health Helpline |
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| North Lincolnshire Support Groups and Activities |
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| Bereavement |
Grieving when someone dies by suicide can be incredibly difficult and support is available:
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| Help with other issues |
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| Urgent | If someone is in immediate danger or has harmed themselves, call 999 and ask for an ambulance or take them to A&E. If you need help fast but don’t think it is a 999 emergency, call 111 or make an urgent appointment with a GP. |
| Crisis support | If they need immediate mental health support, encourage them to ring Samaritans 116 123, open 24/7 or North Lincolnshire Single Point of Access: advice line for routine and urgent referrals and enquiries TEL: 08000150211 The individual can also text Shout on 85258. |
| North Lincolnshire Mental Health Support |
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| Other Mental Health Helpline |
|
| North Lincolnshire Support Groups and Activities |
|
| Bereavement |
Grieving when someone dies by suicide can be incredibly difficult and support is available:
|
| Help with other issues |
|
| Urgent | If someone is in immediate danger or has harmed themselves, call 999 and ask for an ambulance or take them to A&E. If you need help fast but don’t think it is a 999 emergency, call 111 or make an urgent appointment with a GP. |
| Crisis support | If they need immediate mental health support, encourage them to ring Samaritans 116 123, open 24/7 or North Lincolnshire Single Point of Access: advice line for routine and urgent referrals and enquiries TEL: 08000150211 The individual can also text Shout on 85258. |
| North Lincolnshire Mental Health Support |
|
| Other Mental Health Helpline |
|
| North Lincolnshire Support Groups and Activities |
|
| Bereavement |
|
| Help with other issues |
|
R;pple provides hope and encouragement to keep safe at your most vulnerable point. If you are worried about someone in your household looking up harmful materials online e.g., methods of self-harm – you can download the free R;pple tool which will redirect away from harmful online searches to offer the right support.
The Stay Alive app is a pocket suicide prevention resource for the UK, packed full of useful information to help you stay safe. You can use it if you are having thoughts of suicide or if you are concerned about someone else who may be considering suicide.
The app includes a safety plan, customisable reasons for living, and a life box where you can store photos that are important to you.
The Hub of Hope is the UK’s leading mental health support database. It is provided by national mental health charity, Chasing the Stigma, and brings local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS mental health support and services together in one place for the first time.
Live Well North Lincolnshire is a one-stop place for residents and visitors to find a wide range of organisations; support groups, community groups, events and activities that can help improve their health and wellbeing.
The information hub is a joint initiative between North Lincolnshire Council, the Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership and other partners from across the public, voluntary and community sector with an interest in improving community wellbeing in North Lincolnshire.
Chilypep (the Children and Young People’s Empowerment Project) is a charity dedicated to raising the voice of children and young people, giving them the platform to shape their world and stay connected. We work with all young people in Sheffield, Barnsley, South Yorkshire and Beyond.
Chilypep also provide a range of resources on their website, including advice and support for children and young people bereaved by suicide.
During challenging times, it is really important that we try to look after ourselves and those around us.
This includes our physical health and just as importantly, our mental wellbeing. Good mental wellbeing helps us to maintain our physical health and to make the most from life.
It is important that we take time to do things that are good for our mental wellbeing, below are some suggestions.
Five ways to wellbeing is a way of making sure our minds and bodies remain healthy while we stay safe:
Being active and getting out in the fresh air is proven to support our wellbeing, participating in regular physical activity is associated with lower rates of depression and anxiety across all age groups. Running, cycling and walking are great ways of keeping your body moving and North Lincolnshire offers a range of top-quality green spaces and parks, cycle networks and walking paths to explore.
There is strong evidence indicating that feeling close to, and valued by, other people is a fundamental human need and one that contributes to us functioning well in the world. Social relationships and feeling ‘connected,’ with others is critical for promoting wellbeing and for acting as a buffer against mental ill health for people of all ages. This could involve something as simple as setting a regular monthly catch up date with friends or family, calling in on a neighbour once a week for a cup of tea, or becoming more involved and engaged in the community by volunteering or joining a local activity group.
Taking notice means taking the time to pause to see the beauty around us, when on daily exercise this could be taking notice of nature, flowers, birdsong; it could be taking notice of the messages of support that people have displayed in their windows, or taking notice of other people that we see. Instead of rushing by, take the time to look and realise what you see. Some of the support we rely on may have changed at the moment and it’s important we take notice of our own wellbeing to make sure we stay well. It is important to remember that there is still support available to people who need it.
Learning new skills, or rediscovering an old one, can make us feel more confident as well as be enjoyable. You could get creative with things you may have in your cupboards such as paints or knitting needles – it could be as simple as taking time to complete a crossword or word search, anything that encourages you to take time out and use your mind.
Doing something nice for a friend, a neighbour or a family member can make you feel great. Just simply saying thank you or even being more involved in community and social participation through volunteering your time can be incredibly rewarding and helps to develop an enhanced sense of wellbeing.
Problems such as debt, relationships and bereavement can make people feel alone and seriously affect people’s mental health and wellbeing. There is help available. Go to the People, Health and Care pages on the council website see what’s available in your area.
It is important that we feel confident to talk about suicide in a caring and compassionate way. A key element of having these conversations is being able to discuss suicide (or suicide intent) in ways that avoid the stigmatising phrases which have evolved over time.
This is not just about being politically correct or avoiding causing offence; it’s about saving lives. Being conscious of the language choices you make and talking openly, honestly and sensitively about suicide is the key to reducing the stigma which may prevent an individual from seeking help.
The following guidance can help you to choose your words with greater care.
Careful choice of language can also enable us to have positive and caring conversations, choosing the right words is just as important as avoiding the wrong ones.
| Avoid | Say | Why |
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“Commit” implies a sin or crime which reinforces stigma and implies that suicide is selfish and a personal choice. |
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The terms “successful” and “completed” suggest that the tragic outcomes of suicide are an achievement or something positive. |
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“Failed” and “Unsuccessful” imply that the opposite would be a positive or desired outcome. |
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Try not to define an individual by their experience with suicide. A person is more than their suicidal thought/experiences. |
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We must take suicide attempts seriously. “Cry for help” dismisses the intense emotional distress that someone may be feeling. | |
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The reasons for someone thinking of taking their own life are usually very complex. Speculation regarding a person’s intentions is unhelpful and adds to feelings of shame and stigma felt by the individual | |
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These terms can spark panic and make suicide seem inevitable or more common than it is. Using less emotionally charged words can avoid causing panic or a sense of |
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Putting the condition before the person reduces someone’s identity to their diagnosis—people aren’t their illness; they have an illness. People-first language shows respect for the individual, reinforcing the fact that their condition does not define them. |
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You want to show that you are not going to dismiss or make fun of how they are feeling but instead you are prepared to talk about it and take it seriously. Try to ask open questions and not ones that require just a yes or no answer. It’s important to be direct. Using the word suicide shows others that you are ok with them talking about suicidal feelings and that you are there to listen. |