March marks Self-Harm Awareness Month—a global initiative dedicated to raising awareness about self-injury and encouraging open conversations about mental health. Vaya Health offers ongoing community support in breaking the stigma surrounding self-harm, promoting understanding, and offering support to those who may be struggling.
Several of our training programs, such as QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) and Mental Health First Aid, help educate first responders and other community members about recognizing and responding to people having a mental health crisis.
Learn How to Identify Warning Signs
In these trainings, participants learn how to recognize when someone may be at risk of suicide. Sometimes the signs are overt, like saying they want to harm themselves or giving away their most valued possessions. Quite often, though, the signs are less direct.
In that case, we recommend keeping an eye out for certain behavioral clues. If you notice someone has lost interest in activities they typically enjoy or is neglecting their personal grooming habits, for example, they may be depressed. If someone begins to drink alcohol, use drugs, or shows a significant change in their eating habits, they may be at risk for a crisis.
Alternatively, it is important to take note if someone suddenly seems at peace after feeling low for a while—it’s possible they’ve made a plan or decision to take their life.
Over time, this increased awareness can even help you develop a “gut feeling” to sense when people may be facing a crisis, giving you even more opportunity to intervene before the situation escalates.
Learn How to Talk to Someone Considering Suicide
Suicide can be a hard topic to talk about, which is why Vaya teaches training participants how to talk to someone contemplating suicide. Using encouraging language creates a safe place for the person in crisis to talk about their concerns.
For example: Asking the direct question, “Are you thinking about taking your life?” instead of the more judgmental, “You’re not thinking of taking your life, are you?” Using encouraging language rather than judgment or stigma can give someone the opportunity to open up about what they’re facing and feeling.
Learn How to Be Empathetic to Their Situation
It’s important to understand the perspective of the individual in crisis. For example, many participants are encouraged to identify their “2 o’clock in the morning people.” These are the trusted individuals you can call any time of day or night and they’ll be there to listen and provide support.
Behavioral Health Resources
Mental and behavioral health resources are critical during periods of distress and potential self-harm. Those in the communities Vaya serves can reach out to the following resources:
- Vaya’s Behavioral Health Crisis Line (1-800-849-6127) is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Vaya’s Member and Recipient Service Line (1-800-962-9003) is available Monday – Saturday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Walk-in centers help people experiencing a mental health crisis in the same way urgent care clinics help people with immediate physical health needs. You can visit a walk-in center without an appointment. Find a walk-in center near you.
- Call NC’s Peer Warmline (1-855-PEERS NC) to speak to a peer living in recovery from mental health issues
- Available 24/7
- Free and confidential
If you’re a first responder, teacher or local community service provider, becoming trained in suicide prevention can make a big impact on your community. This type of training can give you the skills to understand how to identify the warning signs, know how to respond in a helpful, nonjudgmental and deescalating way to someone in crisis. It can also help you develop a running list of resources available in your area that you can refer people to in their time of need.
