Determine Your Part

Your relationship with the person in need plays a role in determining the level of care you provide and the way you approach being part of their support system. For example, the way a parent would care for their child in need likely looks very different from a person caring for their friend who lives across the country. When supporting someone who is thinking about suicide, especially during a crisis, it’s easy to jump into doing whatever you can. Taking a step back to think about your role allows you to be intentional with your support while optimizing both you and your loved one’s wellness.

Here are some questions to consider:

• What is my relationship with the person in need? How does this impact (or possibly limit) the support I am able to provide?
• What are my priorities right now? How might providing care for this person impact my day-to-day situation?
• How much support can I provide for this person? What are my limitations?
• Who are other people that can also support this person? How might I get them involved?
• Who can I turn to for support when I feel I have no more to give?

Let’s make your reflections actionable!

• Show your care in a way that feels genuine to you and comfortable based on your relationship with the person. Checking in to show your concern doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. You can integrate supportive conversations into your usual interactions. Think about what would be the most comfortable situation for the person in need and be mindful about not putting them on the spot.
• Keep your priorities top-of-mind and make sure your actions are aligned with them. Recognize when you may need to get others involved and give yourself permission to hand off caregiving duties.
• Talk with the person in need and discuss how you might get in touch with their support network. Plan ahead for ways to involve others when you are concerned but unable to provide support.
• Plan ahead for activities that recharge you and people who you can rely on. Monitor your own wellness and follow through with those self-care strategies when you start to struggle.

Providing support for someone in need requires energy. Thinking about how much you can give and what your limits are doesn’t make you a bad person. Planning ahead allows you to be your best for everyone involved.