Establish rapport - connect on a feeling level How are you feeling? Sounds like you're feeling... (lonely, defeated, etc.) I'm glad you are here. That scared (worried, troubled) you? Assess suicide / homicide risk

• Are you thinking about killing yourself or someone else?
• What do you mean when you say... (you're at the end of your rope, you can't take anymore)?
• Have you thought about how you would kill yourself?  Do you have the means (pills, gun, rope)?  When are you thinking about doing this?
• Have you shared these thoughts with anyone?

Clarify the situation and explore the problem

• What has happened today/tonight?
• What brought you to this point? OR What happened before now that contributed to this?
• How long have you been dealing with this?

Explore resources / Problem-solve

• What would help you most right now?
• Who had been supportive of you in the past?
• What have you done before that helped?
• How can I help?  What do you need from me?
• Have you thought about trying... Would that work?
• If anything were possible, what would you like to happen?
• If you wanted to feel better, what would you do?
• What would you tell a friend in this situation?

Summarize and define a goal

• What is most important to do or consider next?
• What needs to be handled first?
• What do you see as your first step?
• How will you go about doing this?

Contract

• Would you promise to come back or talk with someone here before doing anything to hurt or kill yourself?

Crisis Points >>

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