How to Support Suicide Attempt Survivors
Do you know someone who survived a suicide attempt? Are you unsure how to help them? Suicide attempt survivors need special care and support. Every year, about 1.2 million Americans attempt suicide. Studies show 90% of survivors do not die by suicide later. Proper support can save lives and help with recovery. Understanding how to help is very important.
Supporting suicide attempt survivors takes patience and care. Many survivors feel shame, guilt, and confusion after attempts. Research shows that 50% of survivors try again within one year. Good support reduces the risk of future attempts a lot. Family and friends play a crucial role in recovery. Professional help combined with personal support works best. Your support can make a real difference in their life.
This guide shows you how to support survivors well. We cover what to say and what not to say. You will learn about professional resources available. Simple actions can provide comfort and hope. Recovery is possible with the right support system. Every survivor deserves compassion and understanding.
Understanding Survivors
Suicide attempt survivors face unique challenges after their attempt. Understanding their experience helps you provide better support.
What Survivors Experience
Survivors often feel intense shame and embarrassment. They may experience guilt about hurting loved ones. Physical injuries from the attempt need medical care. Mental health symptoms become more severe sometimes. Fear of judgment prevents many from seeking help. Confusion about their feelings is very common.
Common Feelings
Depression and anxiety increase after suicide attempts. Many survivors feel relieved to be alive. Anger at themselves or others often appears. Hope and hopelessness can alternate quickly daily. Survivors may feel numb or emotionally disconnected. Some experience denial about what happened to them. These feelings are normal parts of the recovery.
Why Support Matters
Strong support systems reduce future suicide risk a lot. Survivors with good support recover faster from attempts. Isolation increases the risk of another attempt a lot. Compassionate support helps rebuild self-worth and hope. Professional help works better when combined with personal support. Your presence shows survivors they are not alone.
What to Say
Choosing the right words matters when supporting survivors. What you say can help or hurt recovery. Focus on compassion and understanding always.
Good Phrases to Use
"I am glad you are alive today." This shows you value their life. "Thank you for telling me what happened." Validates their trust. "I am here for you whenever you need." Offers ongoing support. "You are not alone in this struggle." Reduces isolation feelings. "Recovery is possible with help and time." Provides hope. "Your feelings are valid and understandable."
What Not to Say
Avoid saying "How could you do this?"
Never say, "You have so much to live for."
Do not say, "Others have it worse than you."
How to Listen
Listen without interrupting or offering immediate solutions always. Make eye contact and give your full attention. Acknowledge their feelings without trying to fix them. Ask open-ended questions to understand their experience better. Reflect back what you hear to show understanding. Avoid rushing to give advice or personal opinions.
Providing Help
Practical help makes daily life easier during recovery. Small actions show you care about their well-being. Consistent support matters more than grand gestures alone.
Daily Help
Help with grocery shopping and meal prep regularly. Offer rides to therapy appointments and medical visits. Assist with household chores when energy is low. Check in regularly through calls or text messages. Spend time with them doing simple, calm activities. Help manage medications and appointment schedules if needed.
Creating Safety
Remove means of self-harm from their living space. Store medications securely with limited access to them. Keep firearms locked away or removed from home. Limit access to alcohol and other substances completely. Create calm, peaceful spaces in their home environment. Reduce stressors and triggers when possible around them.
Getting Professional Help
Gently encourage connection with mental health professionals always. Offer to help find therapists or support groups. Accompany them to appointments if they want company. Help with insurance paperwork and appointment scheduling tasks. Remind them that seeking help shows strength, not weakness.
Professional Help
Professional treatment provides essential support for suicide attempt survivors. Multiple resources exist to help with recovery.
Treatment Options
Individual therapy helps process trauma and develop coping skills. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy reduces suicidal thoughts well over time. Group therapy connects survivors with others who understand fully. Psychiatric medication manages underlying mental health conditions well. Intensive programs provide structured daily support and care.
Crisis Help
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 available 24/7, always. Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 anytime, day. Local emergency services: Call 911 for immediate danger situations. Hospital emergency rooms provide urgent psychiatric care when needed. Mobile crisis teams come to homes for mental health.
Support Groups
Suicide attempt survivor support groups provide understanding and connection. Peer support specialists share their own recovery experiences. Online communities offer a 24/7 connection with others worldwide. Family support groups help loved ones cope better. NAMI and AFSP offer local chapter meetings regularly.
Long-Term Support
Recovery from suicide attempts takes time and ongoing support. Long-term commitment helps survivors build stable, meaningful lives.
Building Networks
Help survivors identify trusted friends and family members. Encourage connections with support groups and peer supporters. Include mental health professionals in their support team. Foster relationships with understanding coworkers or classmates when appropriate. Connect with faith communities if spiritually meaningful to them.
Watching for Signs
Learn to recognize signs of increased suicide risk. Watch for sudden mood changes or withdrawal from others. Notice if they give away prized possessions unexpectedly. Increased substance use signals growing distress and danger. Talking about death or suicide requires immediate attention.
Taking Care of Yourself
Supporting suicide survivors is emotionally demanding and draining work. Set boundaries to protect your own mental health. Seek your own therapy or support groups regularly. Take breaks and practice stress management techniques daily. Connect with others who support survivors for understanding.
Conclusion
Supporting suicide attempt survivors requires compassion, patience, and understanding. Listen without judgment and validate their feelings always. Provide practical help with daily tasks and responsibilities. Encourage professional treatment and connect them with crisis resources. Build strong support networks for long-term recovery success. Monitor warning signs and act quickly if risks increase.
FAQs
What should I do if someone tells me they attempted suicide? Listen without judgment and express that you care about them. Thank them for trusting you with this information. Help them connect with professional help as soon as possible.
How can I help without being overwhelming? Check in regularly but respect their boundaries and privacy. Let them set the pace for conversations and support. Ask what they need instead of assuming you know. Give them space when they request it.
Should I remove dangerous items from their home? Yes, removing means of self-harm is very important for safety. This includes medications, firearms, sharp objects, and harmful substances. Work with them to create a safer environment.
When should I call for professional help? Call immediately if they express current suicidal thoughts or plans. Contact crisis services if they are in immediate danger. Get help if their behavior becomes increasingly risky or erratic.
Can I ask them about their suicide attempt? Let them share what they feel comfortable sharing with you. Do not push for specific details about the method. Focus on how they are feeling now and moving forward.
