I need support
This page contains resources and tools to utilize if you may be experiencing thoughts and feelings about suicide.
Take care of yourself
Engaging in materials around suicide can be difficult and may bring up distressing thoughts or emotional reactions. It's okay to pause or take a break. Take care of yourselves both during and after reading through the following material. If you need, reach out to a friend, family member or trusted professional. Find support resources here.
You are not alone
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviours or a mental health crisis, know that you are not alone and there are many supports and caring individuals available to assist you. If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, call or text 9-8-8.
When someone contacts 9-8-8, you’ll be connected with a highly trained responder who will listen with compassion, give you space to talk, and explore ways to keep you safe in the moment and help you find a path forward.
Connect to others
If you're concerned about your safety or those of others, connect to someone you trust. It's important to tell a friend, family member or professional how you are feeling. If you can, try not to be alone and ask a trusted friend or family member to stay with you. If you can't reach out to anyone, contact the local distress centre or call 9-8-8.
Remove threatening items
It's important to keep yourself safe by getting rid of things that could hurt or kill you. If you are unable to do so, leave the environment where you have access to the means and find a place you can feel safe.
Create a safety plan
A safety plan is a personalized list of coping strategies, supports and resources to keep yourself safe if you are having thoughts of suicide. It It can be helpful to have this plan written down and somewhere to to easily access.
Explore your thoughts and feelings
Understanding your distressing thoughts and emotions can help you deal with your pain. Trusted professionals and close family and friends can help you learn the source of your suffering as well as how to change or manage it.
There are a number of additional ideas to help limit or provide relief from your distressing thoughts. Getting follow-up professional support for your mental health, self-care, sleep hygiene, good nutrition and exercise, thinking of things that have helped you in the past, are just a few ways.
Community resources and referrals
There are a variety of on and off-campus resources that can provide further support to someone thinking about thoughts of suicide.
In emergency situations, where there is an indication of imminent harm (for instance, the person has disclosed that they are going to act on their thoughts of suicide very soon), emergency resources are required, such as 911 or Campus Security (403-220-5333).
If there is not an indication of imminent harm, although urgent support is required, resources could include: