The Daniel Stih podcast.
My guest today is Frank King. He’s a stand-up comedian, a former writer for the Tonight Show, and a speaker on Suicide Prevention. He says he knows what the barrel of his gun tastes like. He’s been a warrior in his own battle with depression and thoughts of suicide. As a speaker and trainer, he gives keynotes and workshops on suicide prevention and intervention to organizations and corporations. He has been a TEDx speaker 12 times on the topic of Mental Health.
We going to talk about how to recognize if someone is thinking about committing suicide, and the most effective thing to say to someone you believe might have suicide on their mind (and what not to say). If you’re wondering how a comedian can speak about depression and suicide, keep listening. This show might help you save someone’s life.
CONNECT WITH FRANK KING:
Website: The Mental Health Comedian
Website: Your TEDx Coach
Website: Clean Corporate Comic
SHOW NOTES:
The QPR Institute. QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — 3 simple steps to help save a life from suicide. Just like being trained in CPR.
Website:The QPR Institute
Signs of someone thinking about suicide:
When you see someone exhibiting signs or symptoms, ASK. Go with your gut. If you can’t do it, get their phone number, call me or Frank, and we will ask them for you.
ASK: “Are you having thoughts of suicide?”
Studies show if you mention the word “suicide” out loud, someone is LESS likely to die by suicide. If you’re not comfortable using the word suicide, say: “Are you having thoughts about harming yourself?”
If they say “Yes” ask: “Do you have a plan?”
If they say “Yes” ask: “What is your plan?”
If the plan is detailed (time, place, method) do your best to get them to a mental health facility or CALL 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline). You can also TEXT 988.
If their plan is not detailed, tell them, “OK, tell me about it. Are you going to kill yourself?”
If they say ,“No (I don’t have a plan)", ASK: “Tell me why not?” Make them give voice to whatever is keeping them here. Something is. The majority don’t want to die. They simply want to end the pain.
Do not say "brush it off, get tough, and get over it". That can have the opposite effect. Instead say: “I’m here for you and I mean it. I know you’re not lazy, crazy, or self-absorbed. I know depression is a mental heath issue. But here’s the good news - with time and treatment things will get better. And I’ll take the time, I’ll help you get the treatment.”
To those BEING ASKED: If you are not having thoughts of suicide, do not take it personally. They care. If they did not care, they wouldn’t have asked. Start your reply with, “Thank you for asking.” Then if you like, tell them what’s up.
PREVENTION
Self-care plan:
Everyone should have a self-care plan, things you do every day that has nothing to do with what you do for a living. Make these things you have control over: what you eat, how much you sleep.
Frank has 5 things in his:
Everyone should have ONE thing you do every day to keep yourself mentally healthy it's your NON-Negotiable. You do this everyday, regardless of what else you do. For Frank it’s going to the gym - that’s his non-negotiable. What's yours?
