Everyone has a role to play in suicide prevention. Here are five steps you can take to help someone in a suicidal crisis. These five action steps for communicating with someone who may be suicidal are supported by evidence in the field of suicide prevention and are provided by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. If you’re concerned about yourself or someone else, please call the Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7.

#BeThe1To Ask

Ask the tough question. When somebody you know is in emotional pain, ask them directly: "Are you thinking about killing yourself?"

#BeThe1To Be There

If your friend is thinking about suicide, listen to their reasons for feeling hopeless and in pain. Listen with compassion and empathy and without dismissing or judging.

#BeThe1To Keep Them Safe

Is your friend thinking about suicide? Ask if they've thought about how they would do it and separate them from anything they could use to hurt themselves.

#BeThe1To Help Them Connect

Help your friend connect to a support system, whether it's 800-273-TALK (8255), family, friends, clergy, coaches, co-workers, or therapists, so they have a network to reach out to for help.

#BeThe1To Follow Up

Check-in with the person you care about on a regular basis. Making contact with a friend in the days and weeks after a crisis can make a difference in keeping them alive.

For more information or a list of additional resources, please visit BeThe1To.com or suicidepreventionlifeline.org.