Taking Care of Yourself

Helping someone in need takes a lot of courage and energy. Taking care of yourself in the crisis and afterwards will help you maintain your health and well-being. Here are a few ways to support your own mental health as us assist others:

• Manage your anxiety and try to remain calm in the situation
• Remember that you are not alone, you can call for help at any time
• Afterwards, have a self-healing practice ready
• Take time off from work and other responsibilities if you feel like you need mental health days
• Share your feelings with trusted family and friends 
• If needed, afterwards seek professional help to help you process the event if you are experiencing a mental health crisis.
• You will read more about self-care and working through burn-out and vicarious trauma in the next lesson.

Everyone in Washington state plays a role in preventing suicide in their communities. Because of this, suicide is preventable. People experiencing crisis, who are thinking about suicide, or who are making movements towards suicide deserve dignity, respect, and autonomy. Together we can work to end the silence and stigma around suicide to save lives.