Crisis and Suicide Prevention Supports

If you are having thoughts of ending your life, please reach out for help.

If you are in crisis and immediate danger:

  • CALL 9 1 1 or go to your nearest hospital emergency department

If this is not an emergency, you can schedule an in-person or virtual counselling session with Counselling Services. Sessions are confidential and free for KPU students.

Suicide Prevention Supports

Helping an Individual in Distress

Visit Risk and Security for KPU's Individuals in Crisis Protocols (The Green Sheet) for additional support, including guidance on how to respond to a suicidal communication from a student or a vague reference of suicidal thoughts from a student, and other information on how to help someone in distress. Please visit SharePoint for additional faculty resources.

​Ask. Listen. Help.

Ask directly about suicide.

  • Engage the person in a compassionate dialogue (via email, phone, in person).
  • Are you thinking of ending your life?
  • Ask if the person has a plan.
  • Think about the completeness of the plan and how dangerous it is. Do not trivialize plans that seem less complete or less dangerous. All suicidal intentions are serious and must be acknowledged as such.
  • Encourage the person to develop a personal safety plan. This can include time spent with others, check-in points with significant adults/plans for the future.
  • Encourage them to talk further and help them find appropriate counselling assistance.

Learn more about How to Ask Someone If They Are Thinking About Suicide or Starting a Conversation about Suicide

Listen attentively, non-judgmentally, and validate their distress:

  • Tell me more.
  • Sounds like you’re exhausted.
  • Sounds like you want things to end.
  • I get the feeling you are overwhelmed. Tell me more.
  • So you’re exhausted
  • So you’re overwhelmed
  • So you’re feeling hopeless

Give examples of the behaviours you have observed that are causing you concern.

Explain how you can help within your personal and/or professional boundaries and limits:

  • I’m not an expert in this area, I want to get you the best help I can. How would it be for you to call 9 8 8 and email/call me back after?
  • I’m concerned about you. Would you be open to calling the crisis line and speaking to an expert?
  • What would help right now?

Help includes:

There are also compassionate leave of absence and re-entry processes for students in need. Visit Academic Advising to learn more.

  • Referring someone to mental health supports:
    • Give reassurance and information on available supports and resources.
    • Try not to overwhelm the student, suggest a resource for the most pressing need.
      • Provide the student additional resources when they are ready
    • Encourage the student to seek appropriate professional help and/or supports (internal and external).
  • Follow-up with the student:
    • Arrange a specific date/time to check-in with the student.
    • If new needs have emerged or the student is ready, continue to refer to appropriate resources.
      • If you consulted with any other KPU personnel, provide any new / updated information to the appropriate KPU personnel.

For additional suicide prevention resources, visit:

Crisis Centre of BC offers trauma-informed training for adults to destigmatize conversations around suicide and mental health and build intervention and de-escalation skills. Visit Crisis Centre of BC Programs & Services for more information.

Suicide Awareness

Myths About Suicide

Myth: Talking about suicide or asking someone if they feel suicidal will encourage suicide attempts.

Fact: Talking about suicide provides the opportunity for communication. The first step in encouraging a person with thoughts of suicide to live comes from talking about their feelings and the fears shared are then more likely to diminish. A simple inquiry about whether the person is intending to end their life can start the conversation. However, talking about suicide should be carefully managed.

Myth: Young people who talk about suicide never attempt or die by suicide.

Fact: Talking about suicide can be a plea for help and can be a late sign in the progression towards a suicide attempt. Those who are most at risk will show other signs apart from talking about suicide.

Myth: I must keep my promise to leave a note unopened and unread.

Fact: Where the potential for harm, or actual harm, is disclosed then confidentiality cannot be maintained. A sealed note with the request for it not to be opened is a strong indicator that something is wrong and a late sign in the progression towards suicide.

Myth: Suicide attempts or deaths happen without warning.

Fact: Warning signs are not hidden but often not recognized. Behaviour or events that could be a warning sign include:

  • The recent suicide, or death by other means, of a friend or relative
  • Previous suicide attempts
  • Preoccupation with themes of death or expressing suicidal thoughts
  • Depression, conduct disorder and problems with adjustment such as substance abuse, particularly when two or more of these are present.
  • Giving away prized possessions/ making a will or other final arrangements.
  • Major changes in sleep patterns - too much or too little
  • Sudden and extreme changes in eating habits/ losing or gaining weight
  • Withdrawal from friends/ family or other major behavioural changes
  • Dropping out of group activities
  • Personality changes such as nervousness, outbursts of anger, impulsive or reckless behaviour, or apathy about appearance or health
  • Frequent irritability or unexplained crying
  • Lingering expressions of unworthiness or failure
  • Lack of interest in the future
  • A sudden lifting of spirits, when there have been other indicators, may point to a decision to end the pain of life through suicide

Warning signs of suicide

Warning signs that might suggest someone is at risk of suicide include:

  • Thinking or talking about suicide
  • Having a plan for suicide
  • Feeling like you have no purpose in life or reason for living
  • Feeling trapped or that there's no other way out of a situation
  • Feeling hopeless about the future or feeling like life will never get better
  • Withdrawing from your family, friends or activities
  • Increased substance use, like drugs, alcohol and inhalants
  • Talking about being a burden to someone or about being in unbearable pain 
  • Anxiety or significant mood changes, such as anger, sadness or helplessness

Things you may hear that makes you think a person may be considering suicide:

  • “I’m having bad thoughts”
  • “I don’t know if I’m going to be here Monday”
  • “I can’t cope anymore”
  • “There’s no point”

For additional suicide prevention resources, visit:

Crisis Centre of BC offers trauma-informed training for adults to destigmatize conversations around suicide and mental health and build intervention and de-escalation skills. Visit Crisis Centre of BC Programs & Services for more information.

Health and Wellness for Students