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Parents, Church leaders and members are encouraged to become familiar with and practice the principles of asking, caring and telling when a crisis involving suicide emerges. Photo by Külli Kittus.All rights reserved.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has released a new video resource for parents, Church leaders and individuals to better understand how to respond to and help someone who is having thoughts of suicide.
The video, “Suicide Prevention: How to Help Someone in Crisis,” instructs individuals to ask, care and tell (ACT).
Download video.
Latter-day Saints may consider the act of responding to and helping someone who is having suicidal thoughts to be part of the covenant they made to “bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light,” “mourn with those that morn … and comfort those that stand in need of comfort” (see Mosiah 18:8-9).
The warning signs of suicide and any threats to attempt suicide are serious, even if it seems like the individual is not seriously thinking about suicide or is just seeking attention.
1. Ask
To offer support, the video instructs concerned individuals to ask the at-risk person directly if they are thinking about suicide. If they answer that they are, ask if they have a plan to hurt themselves. If necessary, immediately help them get to the nearest emergency service provider and get on a crisis helpline.
2. Care
The second step is to care and listen to what the individual says. Give the person time and respect what he or she shares. Consider offering to help create a suicide prevention safety plan.
3. Tell
The final instruction involves encouraging the person to tell someone who can offer more support or seek further help.
Elder Erich W. Kopishcke, General Authority Seventy, said, “Educating ourselves about mental illness prepares us to help ourselves and others who might be struggling. Open and honest discussion with one another will help this important topic to receive the attention it deserves. … These all-too-often invisible challenges can affect anyone” (“Addressing Mental Health,” October 2021 general conference).
Parents, Church leaders and members are encouraged to become familiar with and practice the principles taught in the video to be prepared when a crisis emerges.
The video is available in 39 languages and can be found in the Gospel Library app and online at ChurchofJesusChrist.org in the Life Help section under Suicide and How to Help.
For other Church resources, see the Life Help section in the Gospel Library app or online and select the Suicide or Mental Health pages.
Online resources also include links to free help lines staffed by people who are trained to help. One does not need to be suicidal to call and talk.
If there is an immediate emergency, do not delay. Call 911 or local emergency numbers.