Start a conversation about suicide
Learn how to create a safe and open environment for a young person to speak about mental health and suicide.
Expert help
Now that a young person has opened up to you, they’ve opened up their world to support from a whole host of places. You don’t have to take all of the responsibility on your shoulders. Your job is to help them find the best support available, whether that’s opening up to parents, friends or guardians, or speaking to a GP, counsellor or specialist mental health support.
You might also need some support for yourself while you're there for them. Make sure you have a support network too.
If a young person is at immediate risk of harm or is not safe, call 999 or take them to A&E.
The NHS is clear that a mental health emergency should be taken as seriously as a physical one. You will not be wasting anyone’s time.
What you can do to help
Act immediately
If you discover that a young person is at immediate risk of harm, or is not safe, call 999 or take them to A&E. The NHS is very clear that a mental health emergency should be taken as seriously as a physical one – and that you will not be wasting anyone’s time. Check out our expert support resource on this page for more information.
Connect the young person to other support
Professionals like GPs, CALM or mental health experts can take on the weight with you and give more specialist help when it's needed. Offer practical support and bring in the option of other help.
"Would you like to talk to a professional about how you're feeling? I can help you find someone."
"I don’t know much about X, but we can find out more together."
"Have you spoken to anyone else about this, it’d be good to get support from XYZ too."
Connect with other adults in the young person’s life, and check in with them
This way you can create a safety net that ensures a young person always has a space to share - even if that’s not directly to you. And you can support each other too.
Get advice and help on your next steps too
If you’re unsure on what to do, contact specialist support services and ask their advice and guidance. CALM’s services are a great place to start if you’re worried about a young person.
Try to avoid these things
Don't minimise their worries
A young person's struggles are relative and it's important not to assume that they're ok because another young person is reacting differently to them.
Don’t think you have to know it all
Young people don't expect trusted adults to have all the answers, fix all their problems or be mental health experts. One of the most valuable things you can do is simply to offer to be by their side for the journey. Listen to the audio clip for more guidance on how to do this.
Don’t think you’ll be wasting anyone’s time if you reach out for help or advice
Young people’s wellbeing is everyone’s responsibility and they deserve whatever support they need to be okay.
