By Pablee Wong, MC, RCC, RMFT, RPT-S

Warning Signs of Suicide:

  • Sudden weight gain or weight loss
  • Feeling depressed, down or hopeless
  • Experiencing frequent sadness and is often teary
  • Drastic changes in behaviour
  • Talks about life not worth living or life being meaningless, etc

  • Talks about dying as a solution or a relief from pain, suffering & problems in life
  • Talks about committing suicide
  • Preoccupied with death and dying
  • Seems inattentive or loses interest in things one normally cares about
  • Make statements about feeling worthless, hopeless, or helpless. Statements of feeling like a failure
  • Gives away personal, prized, or meaningful possessions
  • Writes letters to say goodbye
  • Sets one’s affairs (e.g., wills, estates) in order
  • Preparing for death, making funeral arrangements
  • Talks about how he or she would like to die
  • Has plans and means about hurting oneself
  • Has previous history of hurting oneself or has attempted suicide previously

What can you do as a friend or family?

  • Talk openly and directly about suicide with this person.
  • Specifically use the words “suicide”, “kill yourself”, “die” and “dead”.
  • Ask questions such as “are you thinking about dying? Or hurting yourself?”
  • Try to take this person seriously and show your support
  • Be nonjudgmental and acknowledge the person’s feelings
  • Don’t promise to keep this as a secret. If this person is a minor, talk to an adult and seek help immediately.
  • Don’t try to engage in a debate about why he or she should or should not committee suicide
  • Don’t try to engage in a moral debate about the right and wrong of suicide
  • Seek help for this person immediately

Other Resources

  • Talk to a school counsellor or a teacher
  • Contact your family doctor
  • Go to the local hospital emergency room
  • Call your local crisis line or 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
  • Talk to a therapist, counsellor or a psychologist
  • Call 911 if necessary

* If this happens over the weekend or after office hours, ACT IMMEDIATELY by visiting your local hospital or calling 911 if necessary. Don’t wait until the next working day to seek professional support.

** The Wishing Wells Counselling Service is not an emergency crises response service. Our therapists are only available for scheduled appointments and may not be able to respond to telephone or email messages promptly.

The Vancouver Wishing Wells Counselling Service provides counselling support in the Vancouver area. Our counselling services include Individual Counselling, Couples & Family Counselling, Children Counselling & Play Therapy, Parent-Child Relationship Support & Filial Therapy, Child Behavior Consultation and Support, and Counselling for Adolescence. Should you need to discuss with one of our therapists for consultation, please Contact Us for more information.
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