Today (10th September), is World Suicide Prevention Day. This year, the charity, Samaritans, wants to impart one important message – that suicidal thoughts can be interrupted and that anyone can help someone by interrupting. It says, “Small interruptions you make and actions you take could help someone who is suicidal. You don’t have to be an expert to save someone’s life.”
Samaritans surveyed people with lived experiences of suicide and found:
- 60% had their suicidal thoughts interrupted by someone close to them
- 14% had them interrupted by a stranger/someone they didn’t know.
They also share a guide for How to interrupt someone’s suicidal thoughts which explains what is meant by an ‘interruption’, ways to start a conversation, and advice on things like how to listen without judgement and show you really care. It also iterates that you shouldn’t be afraid to ask someone if they are having suicidal thoughts because, “it gives them permission to tell you how they feel.”
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, this guide can help but you can also contact a Samaritan if you need someone to talk to.
How can safeguarding tools help?
If a student is having suicidal thoughts, the sooner you can help them – interrupt those thoughts, listen and support – the better. You might notice that something isn’t quite right with a student and start a conversation, but what if they are masking their feelings? Then you may need other clues to help you discover what’s wrong, such as particular online behaviours that could be a cry for help. Safeguarding tools, such as those within NetSupport DNA and classroom.cloud, can help you identify concerns and worrying trends, giving you some insights into what might be hidden below the surface.