For 24/7 crisis support, call Here 24/7 at (844) 437-3247

How Can I Help Someone Else?

This page provides information about connecting someone to help. If you are looking for information about how to start a caring conversation, visit: How Do I Start the Conversation

Supporting someone who is struggling can feel overwhelming at times. Perhaps you have started a conversation with them and recognize that they need help. How do you connect them to professional or community support? 

There are different factors that could be considered when connecting someone to help: 

  • Age
    • There are often different services for youth and adults, and accessing these services may look different depending on a person’s age. 
  • Access to Care 
    • Professional mental health support can be accessed in different ways. Some communities have publicly funded counselling agencies which provide individual counselling and other therapeutic supports with reduced fees. Private practice clinicians also operate in many communities, and their services may be reimbursed through private insurance. 
  • Lived Experience 
    • Individuals may have had previous negative experiences when trying to seek help. As a result, they may strong preferences regarding the support and services that are accessed. It is important to try to understand these experiences and provide alternatives for support, if able. 

Connecting to Help

If you are concerned that someone is struggling, having a caring conversation with them can be helpful to better understand their experiences and needs. Below are some suggestions and tips that may be useful when you are connecting someone to help and support. 

Immediate Help 

If the person you are talking to is experiencing thoughts of suicide, and has a plan to die or access to means, they need immediate help and support. Do not leave the person alone while trying to access them help. It is also important to remove any potentially harmful items from their environment and stay calm as you wait for help. 

Options for immediate support can include: 

If these options are not available, call Here 24/7 at 1-844-437-3247 for assistance. 

Share Options & Information

If the person you are talking to is struggling with their mental health and/or with thoughts of suicide but is not at immediate risk, it is still important to connect that person to help and support. Below are some options that you can encourage the person you are supporting to reach out to. It may make the person more comfortable to make the call together.

Helplines and Crisis Lines

Local Counselling Services

You can also call and make an appointment at a number of counselling services in the area. The services listed below offer individual counselling, and you can also ask about their specialized group programs. These services have a fee, but often can be adjusted on a sliding scale based on your income. 

For more virtual and community-based resources, visit: 

Encourage Hope & Action 

When someone is struggling, it is important to encourage hope and action. People considering suicide often believe they cannot be helped. If you’re comfortable, you can encourage the person to access help by: 

  • Going with them to access services
  • Offering to sit with them as they make a phone call to support services. 
  • Assisting them to identify a professional and to schedule an appointment. 

Build a Coalition of Support

It is important that we build a coalition of support. If you have been providing ongoing support to someone, you can share the responsibility by involving family, close friends, a family doctor, clergy, or other support services. Check in with each other by phone, text or email. The exact members of your support team will depend on the individual’s situation and goals, but most teams typically include some combination of the following professionals: 

  • Family Doctor
  • Pyschiatrist
  • Psychologist 
  • Counsellors 
  • Other Professionals such as art therapists, music therapists, occupational therapists and nurses 
  • Peer support

For more information about building and developing a support team, visit: Develop a Support System

Follow Up on Treatment 

The person may still be skeptical that they can be helped and may need your support and encouragement to continue with treatment. 

If medication is prescribed, the person may want some support navigating this process. It may take time and persistence to find the right medication and the right therapist. Doctors can often adjust the medications or dosage, if needed.