Preventing Suicide: How to Help Someone in Crisis (with Kacy Maitland)

Summary: Trigger Warning: Suicide  How do you actually talk to someone who’s feeling suicidal?  This week, Lucie and Chris talk to Kacy Maitland, Chief Clinical Officer at Samaritan’s, a suicide prevention nonprofit to explore the do’s and don’ts of this important conversations.  Kacy discusses the stigma surrounding suicide, the necessity of early conversations, and innovative ways to maintain connections with friends to foster emotional support. She also walks us through how to navigate difficult emotions, recognize signs of distress, and the importance of asking direct questions about suicidal thoughts. Key takeaways Listening can help others feel better. Managing crisis is a learned behavior. Suicide prevention requires early intervention. Regular check-ins can prevent feelings of isolation. Empathy and validation are crucial in conversations about struggles. Removing judgment creates a safe space for sharing. Asking direct questions about suicidal thoughts can provide relief. Self-care includes basic needs like hydration and sleep. Understanding the root causes of self-harm is crucial. Practicing how to ask about suicide can reduce hesitancy. Suicide prevention starts with small, everyday interactions. Community resources are available and should be utilized. Everyone has a role in reducing stigma around mental health. Kacy C. Maitland, LICSW (she/her), is the Chief Clinical Officer for Samaritans, a Massachusetts-based suicide prevention organization. In that role, she oversees all programming, including the 24/7 crisis helpline, youth text line, suicide grief support services, and suicide prevention education. Kacy has over 15 years of experience in the field of mental health. She has practiced as both a trainer and clinician in a variety of settings, including working with those struggling with severe and persistent mental illness, and holds leadership roles with community organizations and government policy advisory groups. Kacy is a Commissioner for the Disabled Persons Protection Commission (DPPC) for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She has also been an Adjunct Professor of Social Work at Simmons University Graduate School of Social Work and in Sociology at Quincy College. Connect with Kacy: You can connect with her by visiting https://www.samaritanshope.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kacy-c-maitland-licsw For more Information about the Breakfast for Hope Event on April 30, 2025, visit: https://www.breakfastforhope.org Resources & Next Steps:🔗 Learn more about Lucie Tesarova and her work at https://www.MindFittery.com  🔗 Connect with Chris Wong at https://www.MyLeadershipPotential.com      👥 Join the conversation:✔️ Like & share this episode with a colleague.✔️ Drop a comment🎧 Listen now on [Spotify/Apple Podcasts/etc.] Check out the Mastering Difficult Conversations Course https://myleadershippotential.com/master-difficult-conversations-how-to/  Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/tas.difficultconvos  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TAS.difficultconversations  Email – [email protected]  Chris – www.linkedin.com/in/chriswonglmhc  Lucie – www.linkedin.com/in/lucietesarova