Put Yourself First
Develop Coping Skills
Supporting someone who is thinking about suicide is a challenging process that can be filled with tricky conversations and uncomfortable feelings. It is important to develop skills during this time to cope with this stress.
Coping Skills
noun | cop-ing skills | \ ‘kō-piŋ ‘skil \
Strategies a person uses to deal with stress
Think about what coping skills you have. Keep track of things that recharge you:
- How do you support yourself?
- What helps you distract yourself?
- What helps you feel grounded?
- What helps you relax?
Ask yourself How am I Doing? often. Remember to utilize your coping skills for support when you feel like you are struggling mentally, physically or socially.
When you recognize you are lower on the scale, know that you can always call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or seek help from a therapist for additional support.
Learning how to cope with stressors is an important part in taking care of yourself. Make sure you are aware of your needs and use coping skills regularly to help you maintain balance in your life.
SID is not a substitute for clinical treatment or crisis intervention
If you are looking for emergency support, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Suicide Is Different's content and products were developed by subject matter experts for educational purposes only and intended for use by adults. We encourage you to review our Resource Directory if you are looking for clinical services or supports outside of the US.
