The week of September 7th during National Suicide Prevention Month is focused on one of the five action steps of communicating with someone who may be suicidal. The second action step is being there.

How to Be There

You can be there for someone physically, but you can also be there virtually or by showing an at risk person support through other ways. An important aspect of this step is to make sure you follow through with the ways in which you say you’ll be able to support the person – do not commit to anything you are not willing or able to accomplish. Being physically present might not be an option right now, but there are still other ways to stay connected and check on people. The important things to keep in mind when maintaining social connection through distance are the regularity and quality of the connection.

  • Create a schedule with the individual of how often they would like you to check in with them.
  • When connecting make sure to remove all distractions around you so you can give the individual your full attention.

Practice Active Listening

Listening is again very important during this step – find out what and who they believe will be the most effective sources of help. Active listening requires concentration and understanding. Improving your listening skills can be done with practice and these helpful tips:

Acknowledge the Speaker

This can be as simple as a head nod!

Respond Verbally

Asking questions or making statements may help clarify what the speaker is saying.

Summarize What You Hear

By repeating, paraphrasing or even summarizing what the speaker has said shows that you are putting in effort to better understand them.

Look the Part

Keeping eye contact, maintaining good posture, and staying focused are key components of active listening and interpersonal communication.

Physical distancing during COVID-19 doesn’t have to mean feeling alone. Click here to find out how to tailor each step of #BeThe1To if you cannot be there in person for someone else.

El distanciamiento físico durante el COVID-19 no significa sentirse solo.Haga clic aquí para averiguar cómo personalizar cada paso de #BeThe1To si no puede estar presente para alguien más.