Support for You—and Your Crew
SafeUT counselors are always here for you, 24/7. The resources on this page can also help if you need advice for yourself or a friend you’re worried about.
Chat with a licensed
counselor now
Counselors are available 24/7 to talk you through whatever problem you're facing. Just tap the button to get started.
Share a safety concern
School safety takes all of us. Join us in protecting you and your friends from school threats. If you're worried about someone or something, don't stay silent. Sharing a tip to SafeUT counselors is quick, confidential, and can help keep your school safe.
Wanna talk to your parents or friends
but don't know what to say? Try these conversation starters.
With Friends 
With Parents I care about you, and I’m here if something is bothering you.
Hey, is everything alright? I’ve noticed you haven’t been yourself lately.
I’ve noticed you’ve been off. I want you to know that I’m here for you if you ever want to talk.
It’s ok if you don’t want to talk right now, but no matter what you’re going through, I’ve got your back.
Do you want to hang out or talk for a bit?
Sometimes it helps just to talk things out—want to hang and chat?
When’s a good time for us to talk? I haven’t been feeling like myself lately.
I don’t know how to say it, but I haven’t been feeling like myself.
Can I share what I’m thinking so you understand where I’m coming from? I want to get help so I can start feeling better.
I’ve been pretending everything is fine, but it’s actually been really hard lately.
I’ve been scared to tell you, but someone’s being mean to me.
Someone said something scary, and now I’m afraid to go to school.
5 easy ways to make
that talk less awkward
Need some help on how to approach talking about mental health? Try some of these tips as a starting point. If you want more personal advice, a licensed counselor with SafeUT is always available to help you walk through it. They can also help you talk through the conversation afterwards if you’re feeling frustrated or confused.
Find the right place.
It's best to talk somewhere comfortable and private where you won’t be constantly interrupted. If it’s hard to find privacy, try to invite them to go on a walk with you.
Find the right time.
You’ll want to make sure you have plenty of time to talk and everyone is feeling relatively calm (for example, don’t bring it up during an argument or right before class).
Start by telling them how much you care about them.
Something like, “I’m asking this because I care about you,” or, “I was scared to tell you sooner because I really care about what you think,” can help set the tone.
Be nice but direct.
Dancing around what you’re trying to say can lead to misunderstandings. For example, “I’ve noticed that you don’t talk about Joey anymore. Has anything happened?" is better than, "How is school?”
Stay calm and be a good listener.
It’s not always easy, but try to avoid blaming, judging, or saying things like, “You never listen to me!” Share your side calmly, and don’t forget to listen to their point of view.
Coping hacks to try when you’re freaking out
When you’re starting to feel anxious, depressed, sad, angry, or lonely, it can help to take your mind off things before you start to spiral. Here are a few things you can try—but if these don’t work for you, consider making your own list. It’s helpful to come up with options ahead of time, before you’re really struggling.
Turn on your favorite movie or TV show
Take a walk while listening to a podcast
Go out for ice cream
Text a friend
Redecorate your bedroom
Wash your car
Play an instrument
Exercise
Read a book
Play with your pet
Make a new playlist
Challenge your siblings to a game
Signs your friend might need help
If you're really worried about a friend, don’t ignore that gut feeling. People who are considering suicide or planning to hurt others don’t show obvious signs, but if your friend is displaying more than one of these warning signs, you might want to check in with them, submit a tip through SafeUT, or tell a trusted adult.
Behavioral
Talk
Mood
- Withdrawing from activities
- Isolating from friends and family
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Giving away prized possessions
- Visiting or calling people to say goodbye
- Acting recklessly
- Reacting with aggression
- Increasing use of alcohol or drugs
- Researching methods to end their life
- Being a burden to others
- Experiencing unbearable pain
- Having no reason to live
- Feeling trapped
- Depression
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Rage
Signs someone might be planning a school attack or want to hurt others
- Suddenly withdrawing from friends, family, and activities—including online and social media
- Bullying, especially if targeted toward differences in race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation
- Excessive irritability, lack of patience, or becoming angry quickly
- Experiencing chronic loneliness or social isolation
- Expressing persistent thoughts of harming themselves or someone else
- Making direct threats toward a place, another person, or themselves
- Bragging about access to guns or weapons
- Recruiting accomplices for an attack
- Directly expressing a threat as a plan
Source: United States Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center
Become a Live On Ambassador
The warning signs above are from the Live On Playbook, the first-ever Instagram course that teaches people how to help prevent suicide. Check out the course to learn how you can help someone experiencing thoughts of suicide.
