Module 3 - Talking About Suicide - A Practical Guide
Transcript
Module 3: Talking About Suicide – A Practical Guide
Step 4: Builing trust
1. Throughout the conversation, we build a trusting relationship by showing understanding, compassion, and genuine care. Trust is essential when supporting someone in distress, which is why it is the focus of this fourth step. A sincere, trust-based connection can be life-saving. It gives us the foundation to understand the person’s situation, recognize the severity of their suicidal crisis, and begin planning what to do next.
2. After the conversation, take a moment to check in: How is the person feeling now? Has their wish to die changed, even slightly, now that they’ve opened up and felt heard? Only when the person feels at least somewhat relieved, you can begin to discuss what comes next—whether that means making a small plan for the day or taking the first steps toward recovery.
3. It’s also important to talk about safety, including what they can do if things get worse again. One useful approach is the life promise technique, where you ask the person to promise not to harm themselves before your next contact. This promise should cover a short, manageable timeframe, such as a few hours, a day, or up to one week, so the person can genuinely commit. It is crucial to stay in contact during that time. When you check in, you can see how they’re doing, reassess their level of risk and if needed, repeat the promise. This technique works best when a real sense of trust has been established. If the person feels truly connected to you, the promise holds more meaning and can help anchor them during difficult moments.