My Friend is in Crisis

Recognizing an Emergency Situation

If your friend has:

• made a plan
• has the means to hurt themselves or someone else (e.g. pills or a weapon)
• attempted suicide or hurt themselves before

Please get them help immediately!

How to Get Help

Please do one of the following:

• Call 911
• Go the nearest Emergency Hospital
• Call the local Emergency Response Service

If your friend refuses to get help, you may need to call 911 or your local emergency response team on their behalf. Remember: this is someone you care about, who may not be thinking clearly at this time. They may resist your efforts now, but later, when the crisis has passed, they will be alive to thank you. Once you have called for help, use these tips to help your friend wait safely.

If either of you need to talk to someone, but don’t need to call 911 or go to the emergency room, there are many other ways that you can get help!

If your friend refuses to get help, you may need to call 911 or your local emergency response team on their behalf. Remember: this is someone you care about, who may not be thinking clearly at this time. They may resist your efforts now, but later, when the crisis has passed, they will be alive to thank you. Once you have called for help, use these tips to help your friend wait safely.

If either of you need to talk to someone, but don’t need to call 911 or go to the emergency room, there are many other ways that you can get help!

Even if your friend isn’t in crisis right, now, they may still need help. If you notice the following signs in a friend, reach out to trusted individuals such as

Signs Your Friend is in Crisis

Your friend makes concerning statements like…

• I want to die
• Things would be better without me
• I can’t go on like this
• It will soon be over
• They will be sorry when I’m not here
• I want to go to sleep and never wake up

Emotional Changes

Your friend may appear to feel…sad, helpless, hopeless, worthless, guilty, ashamed, exhausted, angry, confused, irritable or withdrawn.

Unusual Behaviors

Your friend may behave in ways such as:

• Isolating themselves
• Giving away prized possessions
• Partying excessively
• Using substances more than usual
• Having unsafe sex or changes in libido
• Having difficulty making decisions
• Under or overeating
• Under or oversleeping

If you’ve noticed these types of changes, ask your friend if he/she is thinking about suicide. Talking about it won’t give them the idea, but it may be what they’ve been waiting to hear to ask for help.

If you want advice or information, you have options:

• Call ConnexOntario, Kids Help Phone or your local crisis service
• Talk to their friends, parents or brothers/sisters
• Talk to a guidance counsellor, your/your friend’s family doctor
• Ask for help in helping your friend! Read How Can I Help My Friend to see what else you and others can do.