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Hacks for Suicidal Folks

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People rarely talk about suicide directly, but many of our participants suffer from serious depression and think about suicide a lot.

One of the things that organizations might consider is ensuring that all of their staff are trained in Mental Health First Aid. There is more information in the section on Mental Health First Aid.

A person’s behavior may change drastically, or they may begin to talk about wanting to disappear or go away. In the event that people begin to talk like this, it’s important to perform a basic standard assessment of the seriousness of suicidality and help participants form a survival plan and/or connect with emergency services as needed.

Featured Hacks

These featured hacks highlight creative, practical solutions from harm reduction leaders on the ground. From DIY tools to clever workarounds, each one reflects the ingenuity, care, and real-world experience that keeps this movement alive. 

Though not all harm reduction organizations or programs are in need of universal precautions or OSHA considerations, most are. It’s important when setting up a harm reduction space to take into consideration the important and real risks of harm reduction work. This includes the potential for entry and exposure to blood-borne pathogens as well as airborne pathogens.
These principles were developed over a period of about four years in the 1990s amid much debate among early harm reductionists, who came to consensus on these enduring principles of harm reduction.