You are not a trained counselor. Your responsibility is to contact the appropriate professional who will manage the situation.
Assess the situation:
- Is the person dangerous to self or other?
- In determining whether a person may be suicidal, “be a PAL”.
P- Does the person have a plan?
A- Does the person have access to the plan?
L- How lethal is the plan?
- Your primary objective is to keep yourself and others safe.
- Do not leave the person alone.
If there has been a suicide attempt or suicide:
- Call 911.
- Then call the Dean on Call at 309-337-5713.
- If you are in a residence hall, contact the RA on duty.
- Nothing should be touched. Be observant but do not tamper with the scene.
- Maintain confidentiality. Keep the involvement of others to a minimum.
If the person is or might be dangerous:
- 7PM -7:30 AM call campus security at 309-337-5708.
- After calling security and all other times call the Dean on Call at 309-337-5713.
- Say: “I need to report a dangerous personal crisis at (location). If you have a name, provide it.
- Campus security or the Dean will make the decision whether to call 911.
- Get help! Never be alone with the person. Ask for assistance from a residence staff member, faculty member, or staff member.
- Keep others away and at a safe distance.
- Never try to take a weapon from someone.
If the person is NOT dangerous:
- Assess further. What exactly is the nature or severity of the problem?
- If you are in a residence hall, call the RA who is on duty.
- Keep others away; be sensitive to embarrassment someone may feel later.
- Remember that you are not a therapist! If you think it might be a crisis, it probably is a crisis.
- Make no promises about the outcome. (“I won’t tell anyone,” or “You won’t get in trouble.”)
- Allow others who are trained, to handle the situation