SUICIDE PREVENTION FACILITATOR GUIDELINES - FIRST DRAFT

BY K.ASHWIN KUMAR
The Following points are the terms of reference for Suicide Prevention Facilitation Skills
activity and they are listed below : There will be SPF Volunteer and Caller and :
1. Do not be JUDGMENTAL
2. Do not give any ADVISE OR COUNSELLING
3. Do not give any assurance of continued patronage post your call
4. A trained volunteer or a caller are on equal platform.Neither is superior or inferior
5. This entire activity should remain as non profit one
6. Do not look at watch/mobile phone /elsewhere - Focus BE THERE Listen totally
7. Decide whether you can give quality time or not listening to the caller else transfer it to
other trained SPF Volunteer.
8. Do not make SPF activity personal, remain detached from the caller and the process
.This
Should not be treated as an extension to your business or P.R.Exercise or Society Self
promotion.Kindly refrain from these in a self disciplined way.
9. As an SPF Volunteer you should be mature enough to handle uncomfortable or social
taboo
Issues without showing any signs of discomfort /irritation or inability to handle the same
and these can be related to
A. Sexual activities or preferences
B. Family and Interpersonal Relations
C.Cultural Issues
D. Mental Health disorders
E. Substance abuse
10. Do not cut off a caller abruptly or react , RESPOND .If you as a SPF Volunteer is
feeling
uncomfortable handling a caller. Politely transfer the call to other trained volunteer and if
you feel that caller requires Medical Intervention, refer it to the concerned specialist.
11. Mandatory: A SPF Volunteer should be a person with clean habits.People with
smoking/liquor/gutkha/hookah/pan masalas/drug abuse history are requested not to
Attend the training program and as this is a referral based training program , matter will
Escalated to the referred person of first contact.
12. Kindly do not share or express your political /religious/cultural preferences
13. The entire discussion between you and the caller will come under confidentiality
clause
and agreement and not a word can be shared in any online or offline web or any forms
of media at any point of time except when you are involved in SPF activity or training.
14. Kindly do not use this training program for any religious conversion process
15. Basic Information on Types of Callers

A. Genuine callers - who express their feelings and pour out their feelings , innermost
Fears, insecurities ,emotional turmoil they are undergoing.
B. Sexual callers - Most of them give a call , will be silent for a period of time , with deeper
sighs , listen carefully they will be indulging in Tele Mastrubation , politely cut them off
C. Threatening Callers : They will challenge you that they will commit suicide in front of
You or will tell that they are recording you call or will blame you for their suicide.Be
patient and assertive and never get angry or use harsh tone of voice and request them
Politely. Sir /Madam , You have absolute control on your life , I am here as your
unconditional and non- judgmental friend , would you like to share any issue that is
disturbing you
D. Silent Callers - Most of them will be silent, will not open up in first few calls , they will
give repeated calls[ mostly during the same time of the day] Be Patient and tell them
That you empathise with them and take time to share , I am waiting and once in 2-3
Minutes they need to confirm to you that they are there and are taking time to express
E. Third Party callers - 95% of them will always come on the pretext that someone known
to them is undergoing this problem and how can they help his relative or a friend or
office colleague ,You as SPF treat him/her as 3rd party direct caller without him/her
knowing that you are treating him as direct caller and once in while stress that yes we
are taking about That person.
F. Family issues caller
G. Legal issues caller
H. Financial help seeker
I. Mental health disorder acute patient caller - requires medical intervention and
Escalation - Separate training for the same under SPF will be given
J. Challenger caller - Who boasts that he has more knowledge and experience than you on
Suicide prevention , depression and all forms of mental illnesses and can quote all texts
and medicines for the same. As a SPF Volunteer you need to assert to him/her that you
respect the knowledge he/she has and can utilise the same for SPF activity.
AS PART OF SPF Training , all volunteers will be shared knowledge on these types of
Callers and should take active participation in ROLE PLAYS by playing sometimes as
volunteer and caller .You will evaluated by experts whether you are sticking to the
guidelines given as part of training program.Be prepared to take frank and forthright
feedback from experts
16. Your caller after discussing with you may commit suicide , this should not affect your
personal life and your family relations .Kindly inform your family about your SPF
Activity
17. Practice open ended questions
18. Paraphrase questions and revolve around feelings aspect of the core issue being
shared by
your caller.
19. If your caller ignores you in any social function or any public gathering , accept it as a
reward.Do not expect anything from your caller and especially moral obligation to you. BE
DETACHED is the mantra here.

20. A SPF Volunteer activity is not to fill up your social identity crisis and not an
extension to
your social dos or parties or club activities but a serious commitment from your end to
the cause of SUICIDE PREVENTION FACILITATION and this is best done in a cascading
Model in a SELFLESS, SUBTLE AND SILENT Manner .

A SPF VOLUNTEER STATEMENT

I , ..[Full name] ,
residing at ,
bearing the Aadhar card number..
Cell number :
Email id :
Was referred by : ..
Referred person cell number and email id : ..
Would like to state that I am in a sound state of mind and have offered my time to get
trained on Suicide Prevention Facilitation Skills. I will be using this training program for
non profit purposes and will serve the society selflessly in the area of Suicide Prevention.
I have informed my family members about this program and I do not hold the Suicide
Prevention training program providers responsible for any legal /medical course of action
arising out my actions directly or indirectly whatsoever in any manner in the future.
I have been provided this training program free of Cost.
I firmly believe and declare that I will be adhering to the guidelines of the Suicide
Prevention Facilitation Skills training program and will not deviate into counseling
/advises /suggestions in non profit or for profit purposes in any way.
----------------------------SIGNATURE

-------------------------------------FULL NAME OF VOLUNTEER

--------------------------------------------------------SIGNATURE OF
REFERRED PERSON
WITH FULL NAME
DATE :
TIME :

LOCATION :
APPROVED BY 1:
2.

A SPF VOLUNTEER FIRST POINT OF CONTACT STATEMENT WITH CALLER

SIR /MADAM,
I AM HERE TO LISTEN TO ANY ISSUE THAT IS DISTURBING OR
BOTHERING YOU IN A NON JUDGMENTAL AND UNCONDITIONAL
MANNER. IF YOU ARE UNDERGOING ANY EMOTIONAL CRISIS AND FEEL
THAT CAN BE SHARED , KINDLY DO AND LET ME ASSURE YOU I WILL
NOT JUDGE YOU IN ANY MANNER NEITHER GIVE YOU ANY ADVICE OR
SUGGESTION AT ANY POINT OF TIME UNLESS AND UNTIL IT REQUIRES
MEDICAL INTERVENTION, I WILL ESCALATE THE SAME WITH YOUR
PERMISSION.
CALLER : HOW WILL LISTENING HELP SOLVE MY PROBLEM ?
VOLUNTEER : I CANNOT GIVE YOU ANY FORM OF ASSURANCE BUT
OFFER QUALITY TIME TO LISTEN IN A NON INTERFERING MANNER AND
DURING THE COURSE OF DISCUSSION HELP YOU POUR OUT THE TRUE
FEELINGS^& MAYBE THE POUR OUT WITH A STRANGER CANNOT SOLVE
YOUR PROBLEM BUT MIGHT HELP YOU TO SEE YOUR ISSUE IN A
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ALTOGETHER.

Entire extract written by

K.Ashwin Kumar
ashwinnallari@gmail.com
Cell no 98491 94366