A conversation can matter when someone is struggling. During Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, TELUS Health is sharing resources that can help people recognize signs of serious emotional distress, respond with care and know where to turn when professional or crisis support is needed.
Know Where to Turn in a Crisis
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline gives people experiencing a mental health, substance use or suicide-related crisis a simple way to connect with trained support. Calling or texting 988 can connect someone with confidential crisis assistance and help them identify additional resources. It can also be an important number to know before you or someone you care about ever needs it.
Read the TELUS Health resource: 988 Mental Health Crisis Line
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask the Difficult Question
Changes such as talking about death, withdrawing from others, expressing hopelessness, giving away possessions or making preparations for suicide deserve attention. If you are concerned about someone, TELUS Health encourages a direct but compassionate conversation rather than avoiding the subject. Listen without dismissing what the person is feeling, help connect them with appropriate support and take indications of immediate danger seriously.
Read the TELUS Health resource: Lighting the Way
Support Mental Health Before It Becomes a Crisis
Suicide prevention also includes creating more opportunities for people to get help earlier. Stress, anxiety, depression, substance use and family challenges can become harder to manage when someone feels they have to handle them alone. Normalizing conversations about mental health and helping people connect with counseling or other support can make it easier to seek help before distress reaches a crisis point.
Read the TELUS Health resource: Mental Health Support
TELUS Health Support for BHT Members
For BHT member employees with the Employee Assistance Program benefit, TELUS Health can help connect you with qualified mental health professionals and available support. Call TELUS Health at 800-245-1150 to speak with a Care Coordinator about your benefits and options.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health or suicide-related crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
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