Enrichment · Wellbeing

Know when it cannot
wait until tomorrow.

When a friend sends a message that scares you, or you notice something off in yourself, it is hard to know how fast to act. Mark what you see against three short lists of signs. The guide gives one next move, treats Not sure as Yes, and keeps the three numbers that answer at any hour in front of you.

Check a moment nowWhat you get

Moments checked

The worked example is made up: a friend’s messages at midnight, a brother after a breakup and a week of not sleeping. Saved on this device only.

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What you get

Enrichment · WellbeingFree

What you finish with
A record per worrying moment: who it is about, what you saw, fourteen signs in three groups marked Yes, No or Not sure, what you have done and whether someone is with the person. Gives one next move (call 911, call or text 988, talk to someone today or keep noticing) and flags a move not yet taken, someone left alone, a possible poisoning, a secret and every Not sure.
Who it is for
Middle school, high school and college students; parents, teachers, coaches and anyone worried about someone.
Format
Browser guide with a saved record per moment. Prints one moment with the three numbers, all of them in a table or a blank sheet; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
Free. No account, no sign-in and nothing to install. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Wellbeing space in Caveat Enrichment.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. If someone is in danger right now, call 911 first. Use this after, or while you wait.
  2. Write who you are worried about and what happened.
  3. Mark each sign Yes, No or Not sure. Not sure counts as Yes.
  4. Do the next move the guide shows, then mark what you did.
  5. Tell a trusted adult, even if you were asked to keep it secret.

Check a moment now

Signs that mean act now

Three groups of signs, three movesCall 911 nowSeriously hurt, orswallowed pills orpoisonHard to wake orbreathing strangelyHas a way to die andtalks of using itThreatening to hurtsomeone nowCall or text 988 nowTalks or posts aboutwanting to dieLooking for a wayHopeless, trapped, aburdenSaying goodbye, givingthings awayTalk to someone todayBig changes in sleepPulling away from peopleMore drinking or drugsRage, reckless acts,wild mood swingsThree groups of signs, three movesCall 911 nowSeriously hurt, or swallowed pills or poisonHard to wake or breathing strangelyHas a way to die and talks of using itThreatening to hurt someone nowCall or text 988 nowTalks or posts about wanting to dieLooking for a wayHopeless, trapped, a burdenSaying goodbye, giving things awayTalk to someone todayBig changes in sleepPulling away from peopleMore drinking or drugsRage, reckless acts, wild mood swings
The middle column is the one people most often wait on. Any of those signs is a reason to call or text 988 the same hour, for yourself or for someone else.

You can call for someone else

988 is for the person in crisis and for anyone worried about them. Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. A trained counselor answers, listens and helps you decide what to do next. It is free and open 24 hours a day.

Asking does not plant the idea

Asking someone directly, “Are you thinking about killing yourself?”, does not make it more likely. Research finds it can bring relief. Listen, stay with them, and help them connect with 988 or a trusted adult.

Poison is its own number

If someone swallowed pills, a chemical or too much alcohol and is awake and breathing normally, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222. If they are hard to wake, having a seizure or struggling to breathe, call 911.

Sources

  1. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988lifeline.org): call or text 988, or chat online, 24 hours a day; warning signs of suicide and how to help someone else.
  2. National Institute of Mental Health, Warning Signs of Suicide (nimh.nih.gov).
  3. Dazzi, T., Gribble, R., Wessely, S., and Fear, N. T. (2014). Does asking about suicide and related behaviours induce suicidal ideation? Psychological Medicine, 44(16), 3361 to 3363.
  4. Poison Help, Health Resources and Services Administration (poisonhelp.hrsa.gov): 1-800-222-1222 connects to the local poison center, 24 hours a day.
  5. American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Risk factors, protective factors and warning signs (afsp.org).

The worked example is made up. This guide helps you decide how fast to act; it is not a diagnosis, treatment or a crisis service, and it cannot call anyone for you. In an emergency call 911. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.