It is not easy to talk about suicide or to think that someone in your life may have thoughts of suicide. Perhaps you have had thoughts of suicide yourself. If you have thoughts of suicide or are concerned about someone in your life, you don’t need to go through this alone.
Foundation 2 is here to help.
We offer a crisis line available to anyone in the state of Iowa 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you are dealing with a situation that feels like a crisis to you, it is a crisis to us. I recently spoke with someone who was considering calling our crisis line for information about how to talk to a family member about suicide, but was concerned that this wasn’t an OK reason to call. It is. Your crisis is our crisis.
How do you connect with Foundation 2? If you live in the Cedar Rapids area, you can reach us directly at (319) 362-2174. If you live outside Linn County, you can reach us at 1-800-332-4224. If you prefer to chat or text, we offer those services during limited hours. You can learn more about chat and text services here.
If you or a loved one would benefit from face to face support through our Mobile Crisis Outreach program and you reside in one of the following counties (Linn, Johnson, Iowa, Jones, Buchanan, Delaware, Bremer and Benton), our counseling staff can meet with you, usually within an hour. Connect with Mobile Crisis Outreach staff by calling 1-855-800-1239.
Through education, awareness and action suicide can be prevented.
Below are action tips to help if you see suicide warning signs and a list of risk factors.
Attached is a flyer with helpful information about talking to your kids about suicide.
What to do…
If you see suicide warning signs or sense someone in your life is troubled or depressed:
*Remove firearms or unnecessary medicines from the home.
* Talk to the youth and really LISTEN.
* Take the threat seriously and express your concern.
* Directly ask if the youth is depressed or if they are considering suicide.
* Determine if the teen has a suicide plan.
* Help the teen determine how he or she coped in other crisis.
* Get help for teens and yourself.
* Ask the teen to promise to stay in touch with supportive people.
What not to do…
If warning signs are seen:
* Don’t minimize or ignore statements about wanting to die.
* Don’t be judgmental, debate about whether suicide is right or wrong, or increase guilt.
* Do not tell the person to “go ahead and do it.”
* Do not say “everything will be all right” or use clichés like “pull yourself together.”
* Don’t leave the person alone if you think the risk of suicide is immediate. Call a crisis line.
Suicide Warning Signs and Risk Factors
* Making a suicide plan- the more specific the plan, the higher the risk.
* Statements revealing thoughts of death such as “I won’t be around much longer.”
* Available means such as guns or medication
* Depression (crying, not sleeping or eating, hopelessness, isolation, anger at self or others).
* Previous suicide attempts.
* Recent death of a friend or family member by suicide or other causes.
* Other losses such as job or ended relationship.
* Approaching the anniversary of a loss.
* Giving away or disposing of possessions.
* Lack of future planning.
* Using or increasing use of drugs or alcohol.
* Sudden change of behavior such as becoming aggressive, destructive or defiant.
* New involvement with high-risk activities.
* Sudden decline in school work.
* Chronic physical or mental illness or disability.