My name is Lizzie Cayden. I am the Washington State Department of Health Suicide Prevention Program Unit Supervisor.

If somebody is considering suicide, the best approach would be to reach out in the way that they’re going to feel most comfortable. There are a lot of resources:

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1.800.273.8255).

Crisis Text line, which can be accessed 24/7 by texting 741741.

But then there are additional resources that are available online. You can chat text crisis services, there are specialty services.

And then there’s just the power of natural connection and reaching out to people in your life. That could be somebody like a doctor. It can also just be a friend or a family member or somebody you trust in your life who can walk with you as you make those connections for next steps in getting support.

The best way to start reaching out is just to first establish a time where you feel safe, where you’re not going to get interrupted either by somebody else or just short on time. Sometimes it’s easiest to just establish that time first and say, “hey, can I talk to you later today?” Then once you’ve established that, you can either make a list or just think through some of the things that you want to bring up.

But there is no shame of saying “I have been considering suicide. I’ve been thinking about suicide.” One of the best things you can do, too, is think through, How can that person help you? After sharing that, you could ask “would you go to an appointment with me?” “Can you help me make a call to a hotline?” “Can you help me understand my insurance so I know which provider I can reach out to you to schedule an appointment.”