Spot the signs: Hospitality Action’s guide to suicide prevention

To mark World Mental Health Awareness Day, industry charity Hospitality Action is launching a campaign to increase awareness of mental health issues and engage a conversation with professionals in the industry about how to cope with them. 

The charity has published a help-sheet to enable people to identify suicide risk in themselves and others, as well as information on how best to address it. 

• Read the help-sheet here
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The guide provides details on who is most at risk, how to provide support to people at risk of self-harm, explaining what the common thought mechanisms are and how to implement prevention strategies. 

How should you deal with suicide risk and what are the warning signs?

Differentiating between suicidal thoughts and concrete plans to act upon them, the guide sets out the following warning signs to look out for: 

1- Making concrete plans

Such as planning the act of ending one's life, but not only: writing a will, taking out life insurance and acts of preparation for ending one's life.

2 - Feeling that others will be better off without you

3 - Marked changes in behaviour 

Which could be a state of calm from having made the decision to end one's life, or visible withdrawal 

4 - Talking about suicide

Whether they reflect a desire to talk about one's feelings or intentions to act, threats of suicide shouldn't be taken lightly. 

Helpful prevention strategies

1- Seek external support 

Whether it is for yourself or someone else, it is crucial that you ask for professional help to address suicide risk. From your GP to The Samaritans, Hospitality Action, there are many outlets to seek advice from. 

2- Address risky behaviours 

Habits or addictions can severely increase suicide risks and should also be taken seriously. Assistance can be sought from various organisations, but if in doubt, visiting a general practitioner is a good place to start. 

3 - Address underlying issues 

Even if an imminent suicide risk appears to have subsided, dealing with the root causes can mean the difference between them re-emerging at a later date, and helping yourself or someone else lead a better life.