When a young person is at immediate risk of a suicide attempt 1. Seek emergency help from the young person’s GP, phone 999, or take the young person to A&E. 2. Ensure your own personal safety by not getting close if the young person is distressed and aggressive. Observe from a safe position until help arrives. 3. Try to ensure that they don’t have access to any means to end their life. 4. Ensure the young person is not left alone. Stay with them or arrange for someone else to be with them while they get through the immediate crisis. Help to create a recovery support plan. If appropriate, help create a recovery plan (an agreement that sums up actions to keep the person safe). Suggest that the young person keep the support plan in an easily accessible place, where they can access it during a crisis, and that a trusted person keep a copy. Communicate boundaries. Never agree to keep a suicide plan or risk of suicide a secret. If the young person refuses to give permission to disclose information about their suicide thoughts, you will need to breach their confidentiality to ensure their safety. Tell them why (that you care and want to help them) and explain who you will be contacting. Contact the appropriate internal professional. If you are in an education or workplace setting, it is vital that you immediately contact the allocated staff member, such as a senior mental health lead or safeguarding professional. It’s crucial that the person you contact has a good understanding of suicide and safeguarding responsibilities.
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