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Supporting Someone Who Feels Suicidal

Disclaimer:

This publication is based on a Mind UK publication and the original version may be found here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/a-z-mental-health/

Thank you to Mind UK for sharing their valuable content with us. Content included in Mental Health A-Z is made available free of charge and does not form part of any commercial activity. The adaptation has been done independently by Mind HK and is intended for general information purposes only.

What are suicidal feelings? 

Suicidal feelings can mean having abstract thoughts about ending your life or feeling that people would be better off without you. Or it can mean thinking about methods of suicide or making clear plans to take your own life. See our pages on suicidal feelings for more information. 

The type of suicidal feelings people have varies person to person, in particular in terms of: 

  • how intense they are – suicidal feelings are more overwhelming for some people than others. They can build up gradually or be intense from the start. They can be more or less severe at different times and may change quickly. 
  • how long they last – suicidal feelings sometimes pass quickly, but may still be very intense. They may come and go, or last for a long time. 

Can you tell if someone feels suicidal? 

Many people find it very hard to talk about suicidal feelings – this can be because they are worried about how others will react or because they cannot find the words. They might hide how they are feeling and convince friends or family that they are coping. The Mind HK website also has a page for anyone worried that someone they know is feeling suicidal. This page includes a list of warning signs that you may notice, although there might not be any signs or you might not be able to tell. 

Correctly interpreting how someone else is feeling can be difficult so it’s very important not to blame yourself if you aren’t able to spot the signs that someone is feeling suicidal. 

“I wish other people would understand that I don’t want these feelings, I didn’t ask for these feelings and I want them to go away, but it isn’t that simple.” 

Who is at risk of suicide? 

Anyone can have suicidal feelings, whatever their background or situation in life. Suicidal feelings have a wide range of possible causes. See our information on suicidal feelings for more about possible causes. 

They can be a symptom of an existing mental health problem or episode of mental distress, or sometimes a side effect of psychiatric or other medication. People may also experience suicidal feelings because of traumatic life events. When someone is feeling suicidal it is important to be aware of any medications they are taking which might be causing or aggravating these feelings. 

To find out more about side effects of specific medications talk to your family doctor.

“I try and explain to my friends that it’s like there is a huge, thick, black cloud following you around. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, how good your life appears or how ‘ok’ you seem.” 

Some people can say why they feel suicidal, but in other instances there may not be a clear reason, or they may be unable to talk about what they are feeling or experiencing. 

If someone feels suicidal, their feelings may become more intense if they: 

  • drink alcohol 
  • use street drugs 
  • have sleep problems 

See our pages on recreational drugs and alcohol and sleep problems for more information. 

“My own thoughts are driven by the desire to want this pain and suffering that I feel inside to cease. I feel my husband and children are better off without me. I feel worthless and undeserving of their love and affection. I don’t see the person they do.” 

Groups known to be at risk 

Studies show that some groups experience higher rates of suicide than others. Statistics show that men, for example, and people from LGBTIQ+ communities are more likely to take their own lives. See our information on suicidal feelings for more information about why these groups are particularly at risk. 

People can also be more vulnerable to suicide if: 

  • they have attempted suicide before – if someone has previously tried to end their life, there is a greater than average chance they may try to do so again in future 
  • they have self-harmed in the past – self-harm isn’t the same as feeling suicidal, but statistics show that someone who has self-harmed will also be more at risk of suicide 
  • they have lost someone to suicide – people who have been bereaved by suicide are also more at risk of taking their own lives. 
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What is iACT Service?

Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®) is one of the services from Mind HK. Trained Wellbeing Practitioners will offer initial assessment and early intervention for people dealing with mild to moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other emotional difficulties.

 

The service includes 6-8 sessions of low-intensity psychological support, the flexibility of the service allows individuals to receive free and timely support when needed.

If you’re aged between 18 – 65 and are facing some emotional challenges, we would like to invite you to take an online assessment for us to gain a better understanding of your current emotional struggle.

 

If you’re eligible, we’ll get you connected with a Wellbeing Practitioner within two weeks to sort out the next steps.

The service runs for about 3 months and includes 6-8 support sessions, tailored to your needs.

 

We encourage you to attend all sessions and actively practice the tips and exercises provided by your Wellbeing Practitioner.

We take your privacy seriously. Your chats with the Wellbeing Practitioner are confidential.

 

We won’t share any of your info unless you’ve provided consent or if there are risks detected.

This programme isn’t suitable for people facing emergencies, major setbacks, or those diagnosed with serious or complex mental health conditions.

 

If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, this programme might not meet your needs, so please seek help right away. You can check out Mind HK’s “Find Help Now” page for immediate information and services.

Most of our Wellbeing Practitioners have backgrounds in psychology or counselling and are passionate about mental health. They’ve gone through about 140 hours of intensive training and completed at least 120 hours of supervised clinical practice over 9 months to ensure the quality of service.

 

They’re trained by accredited local experts in the mental health field, including clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, counsellors, and psychiatrists. Plus, we regularly check how effective our services are. All service outputs and performances are subject to consistent monitoring.

Who is suitable for participating in this programme?

This programme welcomes anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who may be feeling lost or facing emotional difficulties. Please note that this programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions.

This programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions, but suitable for those who experience mild to severe moderate anxiety, mild to moderate depression, or other emotional challenges. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

After signing up, our Wellbeing Practitioner will contact you within two weeks to schedule a convenient time for a 45-minute conversation, either via video or phone call, according to your preference. During the conversation, the Wellbeing Practitioner will understand your current situation and help you gain a better understanding of your emotional state based on the questionnaire you filled out during application. Additionally, they will provide recommendations for appropriate community resources based on your needs, helping you take an important first step in taking care of your mental health.

Although the intervention procedure is mostly standardised, Wellbeing Practitioners will work flexibly with clients to address individual presenting problems and unique characteristics.

Our Wellbeing Practitioners are trained to support people who experience mild to moderate mental health difficulties primarily. This programme is not suitable for the situations mentioned above. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

Your conversations with the Wellbeing Practitioner are absolutely confidential. Any information about you will not be shared with anyone without your consent unless you or others are at immediate risk or the Wellbeing Practitioner has reason to believe that you may be in imminent danger.
Supervisors will monitor trainees’ development throughout the placement to ensure that they are meeting the required level of competency to pass the training course at the end of the placement.

Yes, it is necessary to book an appointment in advance by filling out the form. Additionally, you can select one of the five stores yourself. We will allocate clients to different Wellbeing Practitioners based on their chosen location.

Before having the conversation, we will ask you to fill out a basic questionnaire for preliminary screening assessment. This screening process aims to ensure that the training received by the Wellbeing Practitioners is sufficient to meet the needs of the individuals receiving the service. If it is determined after the screening assessment that the service is not suitable for you, Mind HK will provide alternative recommendations to ensure your safety and support.

For adults who are suitable for this service, all Wellbeing Practitioners have received training on how to identify and respond to safety and risk issues. If you have any concerns about the support process, the Wellbeing Practitioners have appropriate measures in place and will develop response plans based on the urgency of the situation. They can also access support from clinical practitioners from Mind HK or participating organisations.

What private training does Mind HK provide?

Mind HK provides 4 themes of mental health training, including: Supporting Self, Supporting Others, Family Wellbeing and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

 

Check out the brochure here for more information.

Mind HK provides a wide range of standardised mental health training, which can be tailored to different circumstances. Chat with our team to explore more! 

Our trainers come from a diverse, accredited pool of clinically experienced professionals. Check out our trainers’ biographies here.

Yes, the Mental Health First Aid class of Mind HK is internationally accredited by the MHFA International. The content and certification is delivered by trainers certified from the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong. You can find out our trainers accreditation here.

We are here to support your mental health education journey! Reach out to us and chat with our team.

What are suicidal feelings?

What are suicidal feelings? 

Suicidal feelings can mean having abstract thoughts about ending your life or feeling that people would be better off without you. Or it can mean thinking about methods of suicide or making clear plans to take your own life. See our pages on suicidal feelings for more information. 

The type of suicidal feelings people have varies person to person, in particular in terms of: 

  • how intense they are – suicidal feelings are more overwhelming for some people than others. They can build up gradually or be intense from the start. They can be more or less severe at different times and may change quickly. 
  • how long they last – suicidal feelings sometimes pass quickly, but may still be very intense. They may come and go, or last for a long time. 

Can you tell if someone feels suicidal? 

Many people find it very hard to talk about suicidal feelings – this can be because they are worried about how others will react or because they cannot find the words. They might hide how they are feeling and convince friends or family that they are coping. The Mind HK website also has a page for anyone worried that someone they know is feeling suicidal. This page includes a list of warning signs that you may notice, although there might not be any signs or you might not be able to tell. 

Correctly interpreting how someone else is feeling can be difficult so it's very important not to blame yourself if you aren't able to spot the signs that someone is feeling suicidal. 

"I wish other people would understand that I don't want these feelings, I didn't ask for these feelings and I want them to go away, but it isn't that simple." 

Who is at risk of suicide? 

Anyone can have suicidal feelings, whatever their background or situation in life. Suicidal feelings have a wide range of possible causes. See our information on suicidal feelings for more about possible causes. 

They can be a symptom of an existing mental health problem or episode of mental distress, or sometimes a side effect of psychiatric or other medication. People may also experience suicidal feelings because of traumatic life events. When someone is feeling suicidal it is important to be aware of any medications they are taking which might be causing or aggravating these feelings. 

To find out more about side effects of specific medications talk to your family doctor.

"I try and explain to my friends that it's like there is a huge, thick, black cloud following you around. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, how good your life appears or how ‘ok’ you seem.” 

Some people can say why they feel suicidal, but in other instances there may not be a clear reason, or they may be unable to talk about what they are feeling or experiencing. 

If someone feels suicidal, their feelings may become more intense if they: 

  • drink alcohol 
  • use street drugs 
  • have sleep problems 

See our pages on recreational drugs and alcohol and sleep problems for more information. 

"My own thoughts are driven by the desire to want this pain and suffering that I feel inside to cease. I feel my husband and children are better off without me. I feel worthless and undeserving of their love and affection. I don't see the person they do." 

Groups known to be at risk 

Studies show that some groups experience higher rates of suicide than others. Statistics show that men, for example, and people from LGBTIQ+ communities are more likely to take their own lives. See our information on suicidal feelings for more information about why these groups are particularly at risk. 

People can also be more vulnerable to suicide if: 

  • they have attempted suicide before – if someone has previously tried to end their life, there is a greater than average chance they may try to do so again in future 
  • they have self-harmed in the past – self-harm isn't the same as feeling suicidal, but statistics show that someone who has self-harmed will also be more at risk of suicide 
  • they have lost someone to suicide – people who have been bereaved by suicide are also more at risk of taking their own lives.