Suicide Prevention Toolkit

“Suicide is the most preventable cause of death.” Paul Quinnett, Founder of QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer – Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training.

For many people, suicide is the end result that begins with a thought: “I could kill myself.” Without intervention some suicidal people continue on a deadly journey of tunnel vision: suicide starts to become the only viable option. For the great majority, the desire for death isn’t the main focus; rather, it is the need to stop unimaginable pain.

We all remember the terrible tragedies of 9/11, and one of the most disturbing images of that day that is etched in our collective memory is of the countless people who jumped to their death from the top floors of the World Trade Center. These people did not want to die; they wanted to escape the flames that leapt at their back. We can only imagine the flames of mental and emotional torment that lead people to consider suicide.

The suicide thought might progress from a passing idea to a fixation to a fantasy. At this point a suicidal person might acquire the means and commit to the decision. Suicidal people often need to work themselves up to the act through envisioning how it might play out – what will they do? Who will find them? Will they leave a note? Some even practice the act or test out their conviction by telling others of their decision. With each step along this journey, people become more invested in carrying the suicide to completion; however, prevention is possible at any point. When you interrupt this journey early, you often prevent the person from going on further. For most people the suicidal crisis is temporary, and if we can keep them alive to the other side of the hopelessness, very often we can save a life. At any point along the way, an appropriate intervention can make all the difference.

Suicide prevention is a personal issue and a family concern, but it is also a public health issue. Communities can make a difference; we all have a shared responsibility to prevent suicide.  Just as workplaces have realized they can make an impact on reducing heart disease by encouraging exercise, they can also make an impact on reducing suicide by promoting mental health and encouraging early identification and intervention.

Free Downloadable White Paper: Suicide Prevention in the Workplace: Whose Responsibility is it?