Suicide is not about wanting to die.
It’s about wanting to stop unbearable emotional pain. Almost every suicidal person will choose to live if they can find another way to release their pain and overcome their hopelessness.

Ignoring painful feelings will not make them go away.
By finding someone to talk to, or listening to someone who needs to talk, you can help to release the pain and hopelessness.

Alcohol and drugs contribute to suicide.
Over 60% of Aboriginal people who suicided were intoxicated. A significant increase in drug/alcohol use often precedes a suicide attempt.

People who talk about suicide mean what they say.
Most suicidal people warn those close to them. Listen to what they have to say.

Talking to a person about their suicidal thoughts and feelings will not make them try it.
Talking to a person lets them know you care. Not talking about suicide makes it impossible to prevent.

A non-lethal attempt is serious.
80% of lethal suicides follow an earlier attempt. Always take an attempted suicide as a desperate cry for help.

Most who try to kill themselves were depressed at the time.
Adult depression slows a person down. Childhood depression speeds a person up. Youth go both ways.