When to Call 911

Trigger Warning: Suicide
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People are quick to call 911 when someone is having a medical emergency. However, they are hesitant when someone is actively suicidal. Let’s normalize calling 911 or taking them to the nearest ER when someone is actively suicidal.

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Having worked as a psych nurse and volunteered as a Crisis Counselor, there are 4 things we look for to see if a person needs to go to the ER now. These are:
✔️ Suicidal Ideation: They are expressing thoughts or feelings of hopelessness, death, dying, etc.
✔️ Plan: They have a plan to kill themselves.
✔️ Means: They have access to the item they intend to use.
✔️ Timeframe: They have a date and/or time of when they plan to do it, especially if it's within 48 hours.

When all 4 are present, emergency services MUST be called. No exceptions.
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Even if all these items are not present, when someone expresses suicide, it's important to be there with them. Grab some friends and take turns checking in with them.
✔️ Check in with them frequently, perhaps even multiple times a day.
✔️ Be willing to listen to them, even just sitting with them with your arms around them in silence.
✔️ Get them out of the house and do something, like taking a walk.
✔️ Encourage them to see a licensed therapist and/or attend group therapy.

Being there in a non-judgmental way will go a long way to showing your loved one that you care about them.
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Together we can prevent suicide.
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If you’re in a crisis, contact one of the hotlines below:
U.S. Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
U.S. Crisis Text Line: Text SHARE to 741-741
International: FindAHelpline.com
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Not sure what to say to someone who's suicidal? Check out the @realdepressionproject for tips.
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Also, check out our Resources page for hotlines, warm lines, therapists, etc. 
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