Responding to Suicide and Self Harm Fact Sheet

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Responding to signs of suicide

If someone is in immediate risk of self-harm or suicide, call Emergency Services on 000.

Suicide can be a sensitive and confronting topic; however we have a responsibility to support all our workers with their health and wellbeing. If you are concerned that a person may be vulnerable to suicide, the most appropriate way to confirm this is to engage in a supportive conversation and ask them.

If a person says that they ‘feel suicidal’ or uses phrases suggesting suicidal ideation, such as ‘I just want to end it all’, you have a responsibility to take this seriously. Be compassionate and openly ask if they mean that they are considering ending their life.

If you think someone might be vulnerable to suicidal, ask them directly “Are you thinking about suicide?” or “Are you thinking about ending your life?” Although this might be a confronting question don’t be afraid to ask. It demonstrates you care and will help decrease their risk because it shows someone is willing to talk about it. Make sure you ask directly and clearly.

This also applies to concerns of self-harm. If you’re worried someone is going to do something to harm themselves, the best way to find out is to ask.

You don’t have to be a trained professional to show that you care or offer help, most of the time people just want you to say that you’re there for them. Even if you don’t feel prepared for what the answer might be, listening to how they’re feeling is a good start and you can tell them that you can work it out together.

Ways to start a conversation about suicide

• “I have been concerned about you lately.”
• “I wanted to check in with you because you haven’t seemed yourself lately.”
• “I’ve noticed that you haven’t been yourself lately and I’m worried about you.”

Questions you can ask the person

• “Are you having thoughts about suicide?”
• “Sometimes people feel so low that they have thoughts of suicide. It’s very common. Have you been having any thoughts of suicide?”
• “How long have you been feeling this way?”
• “How can I best support you right now?”

What you can say that helps

• “You are not alone in this. I’m here for you.”
• “I may not be able to understand exactly how you feel, but I care about you and want to help.”
• “It’s common for people to experience thoughts of suicide. I’m so glad you’ve told me. Let’s work together to connect you with someone who can help.”

Assess the risk of suicide

Take any suicidal talk or behaviour seriously.

If a person tells you that they are thinking about suicide, it is important to evaluate the risk.

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If someone is in immediate risk of self-harm or suicide, call Emergency Services on 000.

Those at the highest risk will have the INTENTION to end their life; a specific PLAN, the MEANS and a TIME-FRAME.

The following questions can help you assess the person’s risk:

1. Do you intend to take your life? / Are you having thoughts about suicide? (INTENTION)
2. Do you have a plan to take your life? (PLAN)
3. Do you have access to the means to carry the plan out? (MEANS)
4. Do you have a time-frame for taking your life? (TIME-FRAME)

Any reference to self-harm or suicide must be taken seriously. At a minimum, you should try to get the person to see a medical practitioner as soon as possible.

If the person answers yes to 3 or 4 of these questions, the risk is very high and immediate response and treatment is necessary. Call 000 for immediate assistance.

If a person is at immediate risk of suicide or self-harm, call Emergency Services on 000.

Talking about suicide or self-harm

Always take the person and their behaviour or comments seriously.

It is important to know that:

• Talking about suicide will not put the idea into their head but will encourage them to talk about their feelings.
• Listening to the person is essential to showing them that you care and that you want to understand what they are going through.
• Let them do most of them talking without offering any judgements or advice.

AIDE- Model for talking to a person that is vulnerable to suicide.

A - Ask directly: “Are you thinking of suicide?’ or “Are you thinking of ending your life?” Advise the person that suicidal ideation or self-harm are taken seriously and that you may need to refer them to someone who is more appropriately trained or qualified to provide assistance.

I - Intervene immediately: “I am really concerned for your safety right now; I want to assist you to get some help”.

D - Don’t keep it a secret – tell them you can help, but you need to involve other people. Ensure that you inform the person that you have a duty of care to ensure they are safe and have appropriate support.

E - Expedite getting help immediately.

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Process for supporting someone at risk of suicide or self-harm

Within the workplace

1. If someone is in immediate risk of self-harm or suicide, call Emergency Services on 000.
2. Where possible, ask another staff member to accompany you to a private space in the office, with the person. You should explain that you are doing this to ensure everyone’s safety, or in case you need to leave the room. You could ask them if they want to bring a support person with them.
3. Take the person to a safe place; remove any objects of potential harm.
4. Do not leave the person alone unless you are concerned for your safety.
5. Support the person to connect with an appropriate support service, including undertaking a “warm hand-over“ to either: a. Emergency Services, call 000 b. Lifeline 13 11 44 c. Suicide Call Back 1300 359 467 d. TELUS Health 1300 360 364
6. Support the person to leave the office in a dignified manner either into the care of a medical practitioner, family, or trusted friend.

In a virtual environment

1. If you are talking to a person via email, MS Teams or on the phone, try to identify their location, and whether there’s anyone with them that could provide support.
2. Try and identify what’s around them, including whether there is anything they have access to that would aid in carrying out self-harm or a suicide plan, as you may need to consider how to minimise or remove access.
3. Ask the person whether they’ve taken anything that could be harmful, such as a substance, to check for signs of an overdose.
4. Keep the person engaged in the conversation. If you can, try to contact a Manager (via text, MS Teams etc) and ask them to call 000, while you remain in conversation with the person. This is especially important if someone has overdosed as you want to try and keep them conscious.
5. Call emergency services on 000, they will attend the person’s location.

Next steps in both situations (workplace or virtual environment)

1. If someone is in immediate risk of self-harm or suicide, call Emergency Services on 000.
2. Ask the person who you can call to support them such as a friend, partner, health worker, EAP or their GP (See ‘Warm referrals’ below).
3. Call (or ask someone else to call) the Safety and Wellbeing team on 0408 021 137 to advise of the incident.

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4. Seek debriefing from your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider, your manager or a Peer Support Contact Officer (PSCO).
5. If you are the Manager, follow-up with the person the next working day, or later that day, depending on the circumstances.
6. If other workers witnessed the incident, ensure follow up support is also provided to them. TELUS Health can provide Critical Incident Support.
7. Complete an online incident form in Insight as soon as possible and also email the Work Health Safety and Wellbeing team, redacted: s47E(d) - certain operations of agencies@ndis.gov.au for further assistance in managing the situation.
8. The Work Health Safety and Wellbeing team will assess whether the event meets the notifiable incident criteria and if so, will contact Comcare.

Warm referrals

A warm referral is a transfer of care, which involves contacting a support service for or with the person who needs such a service, rather than just providing contact information and recommending that they contact the service directly.

When a person is vulnerable to suicide or self-harm, you are encouraged to directly link the person with a professional in the moment. This may include asking the person if you could contact the EAP and hand the person over to a professional. Consent to proceed must be received first.

If a person has made a suicide attempt

1. Call 000 immediately – the appropriate emergency services will attend the location. Be prepared that they may ask for your full details, including name and phone number and they may need to call you back. You should take notes of the call as soon as you can afterwards, including the operator’s name or identifying number, time and date of call etc.
2. Notify your manager immediately and outline the course of action you have taken.
3. Notify the Work Health Safety and Wellbeing team of the incident as soon as possible by: a. calling the WHS Hotline on 0408 021 137, or b. emailing redacted: s47E(d) - certain operations of agencies@ndis.gov.au
4. The Work Health Safety and Wellbeing team will assess whether the event meets the notifiable incident criteria and if so, will contact Comcare.
5. If you have permission to do so, contact the person’s Emergency Contact, as listed in ESSentials.

Reporting the incident

You must complete an online incident form in Insight as soon as possible.

In addition, if the situation is in relation to a participant, refer to the Practice Guide – Participant Critical Incident Framework and follow the reporting process outlined within.

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If the employee is returning to work, consider linking them in with the Workplace Supports team, to ensure an appropriate return to the workplace.

Self-care

Supporting a person who is vulnerable to suicide, has attempted suicide, or is bereaved by suicide, can generate a wide range of feelings. It can be challenging to do but also humbling and rewarding. As with any other time of stress it is essential that you look after yourself emotionally and physically. Staying connected with your friends and family should also be a priority.

If you need support yourself, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Carers Australia 1800 422 737 which offers short-term counselling, emotional and psychological support services for carers and their families in each state and territory.

Team members with knowledge of the incident may be impacted in varying ways. Consider how you might discuss the situation with the person’s colleagues and ensure supports are available. TELUS Health has dedicated supports for these situations.

Support Services

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This Guide has been put together with resources from Living Works, Suicide Call Back Service, Beyond Blue, Heads Up and Suicide.org.

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Note: Document uncontrolled in hardcopy

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