Suicide Threats: What to Do

Suicide Threats: What to Do

British Columbia Specific Information

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please reach out:

  • Call or text 9-8-8 National Suicide Crisis Helpline 
  • 310-6789 (no area code required) BC Mental Health Support Line
  • 1800SUICIDE/1-800-784-2433 BC Suicide Prevention and Intervention Line

Emotional support, information and resources specific to mental health are available from Mental Health Support offered by the Crisis Lines Association of British Columbia. You may also visit BC Mental Health & Addiction Services or HereToHelp for additional resources and services. Children and teens can also call the Kids Help Phone to speak to a counsellor at 1-800-668-6868 or visit Kids Help Phone for information on the resources and support available.

For more places to get help, visit Crisis Centre – Get Help. If you are in an emergency, call 9-1-1.

Overview

If the person has a plan to harm themself or someone else, call 9-1-1

Where to get help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

If you or someone you know talks about suicide, self-harm, a mental health crisis, a substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress, get help right away.

  • Call Talk Suicide Canada: 1-833-456-4566 or text 45645 (4 p.m. to midnight ET).
  • Kids or teens can call Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868.
  • Go to the Talk Suicide Canada website at https://talksuicide.ca or the Kids Help Phone website at https://kidshelpphone.ca for more information.

Consider saving these numbers in your phone.

Other things you can do

  • Consider your own safety. If you feel safe, stay with the person, or ask someone you trust to stay with them, until help arrives.
  • Talk about the situation as openly as possible. Tell the person that you don't want them to die or to harm another person.
  • Show understanding and compassion. Don't argue with the person or deny their feelings. Arguing with the person may only increase their feeling of being out of control of their life.

Credits

Current as of: October 20, 2022

Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
William H. Blahd Jr. MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine
Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine
David Messenger MD - Emergency Medicine, Critical Care Medicine