By visiting this page, you are demonstrating the importance of peer and social support. We don’t need special training to help our colleagues and friends. Peer support is what keeps most of us well most of the time.
Watch Gail, Darren, Louise and Adam talking about peer support or look at our quick guides on supporting your team or colleagues.
Below are some key tips about how to go about helping someone else - remember, the way to help is CLEAR...
Click on the letters below to see our key tips on how to help or support someone else...
Serious talk about suicide does not create or increase risk; it can help to reduce it. Suicidal thoughts can be frightening and isolating, and it can be a source of relief to be able to talk about these thoughts and feelings. The booklet Suicide.. living with your thoughts from SAMH may be helpful for them to read.
Asking about suicidal thoughts lets us check if they have a plan. If they don’t, then asking won’t increase risk of them making one. But if they do have a plan, it means you can help to keep them safe. Stay with them and get immediate help from a doctor or through one of the helplines listed on our Find Help page.
For more information, get a copy of The art of conversation, a guide to talking, listening and reducing stigma around suicide and watch the Ask, Tell, Save a Life film made as part of Scotland's Suicide Prevention strategy