What you can do

Make a safety plan:

Always keep fire arms locked away and stored unloaded Store medications out of reach of children and teens Store chemicals and cleaning products in a safe way

Identify a good support system

To support a person in crisis, come to their AID

There is no wrong way to talk to someone or offer help. Many may fear saying or doing the wrong thing. Together, we can remove the

shame and stigma and save lives.

Virtual considerations:

Identifying risk factors virtually may be more difficult. Conversations should remain the same, but seeking help may be different. When speaking with a person in crisis, keep them on the phone and engaged with you as you work to get assistance for them. Don’t hang up or disconnect until help has arrived.

Use statements like:

“I want to help you.” “Your life is important.”

“You matter to me.” “I'm going to stay with you until we can figure something out together.”