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Ask the experts: suicide<br />
Counsellor Naomi Watkins-Ligudzinska answers your questions on suicide<br />
Q<br />
How can I<br />
support someone<br />
experiencing<br />
suicidal thoughts?<br />
A<br />
It’s best to stay calm and<br />
collected, and remember<br />
they are talking to you for a<br />
reason. It is really important<br />
that we react with empathy, not<br />
shock or panic, and do not close<br />
the conversation down. It is then<br />
about supporting the person<br />
with regular check-ins and not<br />
forgetting about them. Kindness<br />
and care go a long way.<br />
Q<br />
A<br />
Is suicidal ideation<br />
something people<br />
can recover from?<br />
Yes, with time, space, and<br />
the right support. Therapy<br />
is one option, but we also need<br />
to consider someone’s support<br />
network. If they struggle to<br />
identify someone they can confide<br />
in, which helplines are they<br />
comfortable accessing until their<br />
next therapy session, or when they<br />
are experiencing suicidal thoughts?<br />
Q<br />
A friend makes<br />
jokes about<br />
suicide and<br />
it makes me feel<br />
uncomfortable. Should<br />
I confront them?<br />
If something makes<br />
A you uncomfortable, it is<br />
always best to say something.<br />
For example, “When you joke<br />
about suicide it makes me<br />
feel uncomfortable,” and then<br />
just leave a space for them to<br />
respond.<br />
It could be they are covering<br />
up suicidal feelings of their own,<br />
or they do not understand how<br />
hurtful jokes like that are. It is<br />
always best to be honest and<br />
tell someone how you feel.<br />
Counselling Directory is part of the Happiful Family | Helping you find the help you need
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