{"id":8286,"date":"2024-04-16T18:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-16T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=8286"},"modified":"2024-04-16T18:30:00","modified_gmt":"2024-04-16T18:30:00","slug":"six-ways-anyone-can-start-the-conversation-with-a-veteran-about-suicide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=8286","title":{"rendered":"Six ways anyone can start the conversation with a Veteran about suicide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"tni-source-date\"><strong>Originally published:<\/strong> 2024-04-16T18:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.<\/p>\n<p>The idea of having a conversation about suicide can fill people with dread. It\u2019s not just because talking about suicide can feel uncomfortable. It\u2019s also because many people feel like only mental health professionals can speak about such a complex and sensitive subject. Many people don\u2019t feel like they\u2019re \u201cqualified\u201d to help someone having thoughts of suicide.<\/p>\n<p>But nothing could be further from the truth.<\/p>\n<p>You don\u2019t have to be a licensed therapist, clinician or academic to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/health-care\/health-needs-conditions\/mental-health\/suicide-prevention\/\" rel=\"noopener\">talk about suicide<\/a>. The conversation doesn\u2019t have to be filled with statistics or complicated terms. Anyone can talk about it and anyone can help someone who\u2019s struggling with suicide.<\/p>\n<p>Here are six ways anyone can be prepared to start a conversation about suicide with a Veteran.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Start simple<\/h2>\n<p>Don\u2019t let worrying about how to start a conversation keep you from having one. Focus on two or three words that can set the tone for a friendly, genuine talk:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cHey man.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cYou OK?\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Just because it\u2019s simple doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s not effective. You just have to get the conversation started. Get the person talking and respond to them with genuine care and concern. Being present and sincere is more important than being \u201cqualified.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Listen to their story<\/h2>\n<p>We\u2019ve all gone through a tough period and can understand the power of someone simply letting us talk and listening to what we have to say. Do the same for your Veteran loved one or fellow Veteran. Create space for them to talk about their experiences and challenges. Make eye contact with them. Listen more than you speak. Don\u2019t dominate the conversation. By normalizing talking about a struggle and being a non-judgmental listener, they\u2019re more likely to open up to you.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Reshape the conversation from clinical to casual<\/h2>\n<p>When talking with a Veteran going through a challenge, make sure you show them you care about them and that you\u2019re concerned about them. Here are some things to keep in mind:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Make supportive and encouraging comments. Don\u2019t ask invasive personal questions.<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t inject emotion in the conversation. Stay calm.<\/li>\n<li>Remind them you\u2019re there for them.<\/li>\n<li>Let them decide how much to share.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Think about exactly what you\u2019re going to say<\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s smart to be prepared and even practice how you plan to talk to the Veteran in your life. When talking, ask questions like:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cIt sounds like you\u2019re feeling so incredibly (insert appropriate feeling here \u2013 trapped, overwhelmed, betrayed, etc.). Sometimes when people feel this way, they think about suicide. Is this something you\u2019re thinking about?\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cWhen did you first start feeling like killing yourself?\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>When responding to answers from a Veteran, remember simple, encouraging feedback goes a long way in showing support and encouraging help-seeking:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cI\u2019m here for you. How do you hurt and how can I help?\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cI might not be able to understand exactly what you\u2019re going through or how you feel, but I care about you and want to help.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Invite them to meet in person<\/h2>\n<p>We all know from living in an increasingly virtual world that conversational tone and meaning can easily be misunderstood when you text, email or use social media. It can also be very simple to mask true feelings when using technology to communicate.<\/p>\n<p>If you think your Veteran loved one would benefit from meeting up, suggest it: <em>\u201c<\/em>Let\u2019s get together so you can tell me more about how you\u2019re doing<em>.\u201d <\/em>If you\u2019re not able to meet with them in person, consider calling them on the phone.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Don\u2019t be afraid to be direct<\/h2>\n<p>Though it may seem uncomfortable, it\u2019s OK to ask directly: \u201cAre you thinking about suicide\/killing yourself?\u201d If the Veteran answers yes, follow the steps below:<\/p>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Inform them they can Dial 988 then Press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line, or ask if they\u2019d like to do this with you.<\/li>\n<li>Determine if they\u2019ve already initiated a plan to kill themselves or injure others, or have an immediate plan to do so, with access to means.<\/li>\n<li>Try to find out where the Veteran is located and whether anyone else is nearby. Get them connected with another trusted individual if you\u2019re unable to physically be with them.<\/li>\n<li>For immediate emergency or medical assistance, call 911.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Remember: Asking if someone is having thoughts of suicide won\u2019t give them the idea or increase their risk. Although many people may not show clear signs of intent to kill themselves, they\u2019ll likely answer direct questions about their intentions when asked.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A conversation could save a life<\/h2>\n<p>For a Veteran in crisis, whose emotional struggles and health challenges may lead to thoughts of suicide, conversations and connections can mean the difference between keeping them safe and a tragic outcome.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p class=\"tni-attribution\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/news.va.gov\/130124\/six-ways-start-conversation-veteran-suicide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs<\/a>. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You don\u2019t need to know complicated terms or lots of data to talk to someone about suicide. You just have to show concern.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":67,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-u-s-veterans-health-care","category-mental-health-recovery"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Six ways anyone can start the conversation with a Veteran about suicide - Its Veterans<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"You don\u2019t need to know complicated terms or lots of data to talk to someone about suicide. 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