Engage with care
Engaging with care means communicating about suicide and emotional distress in a way that is compassionate, respectful and safe. It involves using sensitive, non-judgemental language, listening without trying to immediately fix or minimise someone’s feelings.
Importantly, engaging with care is not about having all the answers or taking full responsibility for someone else’s wellbeing, it’s about being present, supportive, knowing your own limits and helping people connect with appropriate support when needed.
You may want to reach in and begin a conversation with:
“Sometimes when people feel overwhelmed, they have thoughts of ending their life. Is that something you’ve been experiencing?“
Put simply:
- Use calm, compassionate and non-judgemental language
- Listen openly without trying to immediately fix, dismiss or minimise someone’s feelings
- Be supportive and know your limits, you do not need to have all the answers to help someone access support
