dical appointments, are organised. They will often include ‘what to do’ strategies in the case of increased personal stress.
Safe-plans are a useful way of enhancing the ‘protective’ factors for an individual. This does not mean that they will not be overwhelmed by dynamic stresses, but they can improve the opportunity for the individual to have a clear strategy for navigating through these stresses when they emerge.
If you consider someone you know to be at risk of suicide, connect them to trained resources. Try to amplify the protective factors and get them to a clinician or specialist service that can assist them.
Philip Owens is owner and director of Reflective Resolutions and is a leading Australian hypnotherapist and NLP practitioner based in Melbourne, Australia. Using scientifically validated and pragmatic approaches, Philip is a passionate about creating lasting change in and for his clients.
Working in his clinic with individuals and also with corporate clients, Philip’s international experience, state of the art training and processes have led to successful and happy clients all over the world. Focusing on the issues of modern life, Philip routinely works with clients presenting with anxiety, fears and phobias, addictions, traumas, weight loss, insomnia and smoking cessation’.
Dr Joann Lukin – Sport and Performance Psychologist
Wondering about the purpose of living and considering whether or not to continue with life are thoughts that are contemplated by more people than you may think. And whilst there are a number of people who contemplate suicide, it is a smaller percentage that takes steps towards committing suicide. That aside, the feelings associated with depression and other mental conditions can feel overwhelming and highly distressing. Any concerns about someone with thoughts of suicide, should be taken seriously by family members, friends, and the person themselves.
Feeling suicidal is a distressing experience and there are a number of things that can help you to get through the feelings to help yourself. These include the following:
- Talk to someone, a friend, a counselor or a phone crisis line.
- Be with someone whilst you are experiencing those feelings.
- Set smaller, realistic goals, on an hour-by-hour basis.
- Look after yourself, eat well and exercise.
- Avoid alcohol and drugs.
- See a mental health professional.
A further strategy that can be helpful to cope with some of these feelings, is to put a suicide safety plan in place. The plan is a set of instructions that you will follow to help you become safe. In order for you to create your plan well, you should do the following:
- To get your plan underway, talk to someone you trust – a friend, a family member, psychologist or doctor.
- If you can, make your plan whilst you are feeling well. Write the plan down and keep it in a place where you can find it easily should you need it.
- Think about the places and thoughts that might precede suicidal thoughts for you. For example, ‘When I am reminded of my previous relationship, I think suicidal thoughts.’
- Identify the things you can do that may distract or calm you during suicidal thoughts. For instance, listen to music, go for a walk, take a bath or ring a friend.
- Develop a list of reasons why you want to live. It can become very easy to get caught up in the negativity of suicidal thoughts. Shifting your focus to things that make you feel more positive can be very helpful, such as children, family and spirituality.
- Develop a list of those people, personal and professional that you can ring. Include on the list when you can call them, such as the friend you can ring at any time day or night, your counselor who is available during the working week, or the help line that you can ring 24/7.
- Ask yourself, “What do you need to do to make your environment safe?” Think about what might place you at risk. For example, if you have access to knives, or prescription medications. Enlist someone to help you remove them if you’re feeling suicidal or move yourself to another location until you feel safe