It's important for students to intervene in their friend’s lives who may be thinking about suicide.
Talking Points:
- When a student begins to do things out of place from their normal behavior, these can be warning signs of depression or suicidal thoughts.
- Follow the acronym L.E.A.N. as a simple way to remember the steps it takes to help your friend when they are contemplating suicide.
- Listen
- Encourage
- Ask
- Notify
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- When have you felt sad or depressed? How long did it last? Who helped you feel better? How did they help?
- How does just simply listening to someone help them feel like you care about them? How can you become a better listener?
- Why does it feel awkward to ask someone if you can find someone to help them? What would you do if they said no?
- Have you ever had to break someone’s trust and confidence and tell someone else what they asked you not to share? What happened?
- Do you believe it is better to lose a friend in order to possibly save a life? Why or why not?
- Which step in the L.E.A.N. acronym do you think is the most important? Why?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
