What to do in an emergency
There may be times when working towards safety with a young person is not possible. This might be if they are going to immediately act on their thoughts of suicide or it could be if a young person has already taken steps to end their life. In these circumstances – seek emergency help.
If you’re with a young person who has taken steps or cannot stay safe, accompany them to A & E (if you are able to do so safely) or call an ambulance to get you there. This is the right thing to do and not a waste of emergency services time as some people fear. If someone is having a heart attack the outcome could be death – just
the same as if someone has tried to take their own life. Therefore, in this situation, calling an ambulance is the right action to take.
If you’re worried that a young person cannot stay safe or has taken steps to end their life but is struggling to engage in help for themselves – call the police on 999. This also goes for if someone is missing. This is not to get someone into trouble – the police have the resources to find those who are vulnerable to suicide and get help to them quickly, working alongside other emergency services if needed.
