Talking about suicide: A guide for college and university staff

Trigger warning: these pages include content discussing suicidal feelings and self-harm 

Action plans and why they are helpful 

It is really helpful to be clear about what you should do if you have concerns that a student is at risk of suicide. This includes having an action plan in mind that you can carry out without hesitation or worrying about ‘doing the right thing’. This can reduce your anxiety and make it easier for you to make a decision.  

Asking direct questions 

If you suspect someone is feeling suicidal, it is important to be able to ask them in a direct but gentle way and in a safe place, if they have made any plans to act on their thoughts. If they answer that they have, this may require a more immediate, or urgent, response (depending on what they say). 

Don’t worry that by asking you may make things worse – there is no evidence that talking about suicide increases a person’s intent.  

‘Naming’ suicide can reduce the risk 

Asking about suicide is often the best option, as by simply naming it, it can reduce the risk of someone acting on their thoughts.  

Feeling anxious yourself 

We often worry that knowing someone is thinking of suicide will make us more anxious; the reality is that it is always better to know what situation we are responding to so that we can make decisions quickly and effectively.  

Action plan 1 – opening the dialogue [this plan should be used if you have concerns about a student and think they may be having thoughts of suicide - either because of something they have said or other signs that you have picked up.]

This action plan can help you open a conversation with a student you’re concerned about: 

• Take the student somewhere private and safe and talk to them in a direct and caring manner. 
• Explain your reasons for concern. 
• Don’t guess – ask them if they are considering ending their life: “Have you had thoughts about ending your life?” 
• Let them know that you care for their safety. 
• Encourage them to seek help via: 
• Their parent, carer or another trusted adult. 
• Their GP or university counselling service. 

Sometimes just having an honest supportive conversation can avert a crisis. 

Action plan 2 – when there is no immediate risk 

This plan is for if a student confirms that they are thinking about ending their own life but are not in immediate or imminent danger or crisis – perhaps because they have suicidal thoughts but no plans to act on them.  In this case you need to act and to share the responsibility with the staff who are in charge of safeguarding or wellbeing. It is important that the university has this information clearly available for all staff. 

• Offer to help the student arrange an emergency appointment with their GP or university counselling service. 
• Offer to accompany them to arrange the appointment. 
• Offer to make the initial telephone call, explaining the urgency of the situation and then passing the phone to the student to arrange an appointment. 
• Give them the contact details for Samaritans and other relevant contacts [insert link]. If the situation occurs outside of office hours this might contain the situation for the student until the office reopens. 
• Contact the appropriate member of safeguarding staff in your university and update them on the student’s welfare. 
• Make a written note of key points and action taken for the safeguarding team so that follow-up support can be initiated.  
• Speak with your line manager about your concerns and your actions as soon as possible. 
• Contact HR or the counselling service manager to arrange a debrief so you are supported in this difficult work, make sure you make written notes of what has taken place and see they are given to the appropriate support

This content has been adapted from “Talking about suicide: A guide for college staff" originally developed as a partnership between the Association of Colleges and the Charlie Waller Trust and has been endorsed by Universities UK and Papyrus. It was written by members of the Charlie Waller team who are experts in the field – Dr Andrew Reeves, Kirsten Amis, Kath Caffrey – and reviewed by Prof. Keith Hawton at the Centre for Suicide Research.