FAQ
1). Who are the GLASS EMPTY Signal Coasters For?
Pubs, clubs, bars, cafes and breweries that want to show their patrons that they care about their mental health and play a role in helping them turn their distress around, when there are signs of suicide ideations or when someone deploys the GLASS EMPTY Signal or when a GLASS EMPTY coaster is handed to someone they trust behind the bar (a Pub Whisperer), or someone else they trust in the pub (a mate, family member, loved one, colleague or Community Whisperer).
2.) Does every participating pub, club, bar, cafe and brewery need a Whisperer Team?
No, just as long as the venue has a person in the pub available to help someone in distress or there is someone in the community located within 5 minutes of the venue, who can have a conversation with a person who is in distress.
3.) During a suicide intervention is advice giving helpful?
Generally speaking, no. The act of just listening without offering feedback is powerful. Sometimes people will either just need to express their grief, or if they want advice they will ask for it. If you want to provide feedback on what you've noticed, ask them if it's ok first and term it with an "I statement". For instance: "I've noticed you've not been yourself lately. Is it ok if I tell you what I've noticed?"
4.) Why is suicide prevention training important?
Having conversation tools to guide you in a chat with someone in distress is more important than being unequipped if someone is unable to find hope, a reason or to be dissuaded from a suicide plan.
5.) What are the main ingredients of a successful conversation with someone in distress, who has shown the signs of suicide distress?
Trust and confidentiality. Without trust there would not be a conversation around someone in suicide distress is feeling. Such things are usually deeply personal and a conversation around how someone is feeling requires a commitment to confidentiaility - where the name of the person experiencing distress is not shared with anyone else.
When someone helping another in distress meets them with respect and concern, and that person feels heard with their emotions validated, then trust can be built and they can start to feel safe again.
Pubs, clubs, bars, cafes and breweries that want to show their patrons that they care about their mental health and play a role in helping them turn their distress around, when there are signs of suicide ideations or when someone deploys the GLASS EMPTY Signal or when a GLASS EMPTY coaster is handed to someone they trust behind the bar (a Pub Whisperer), or someone else they trust in the pub (a mate, family member, loved one, colleague or Community Whisperer).
2.) Does every participating pub, club, bar, cafe and brewery need a Whisperer Team?
No, just as long as the venue has a person in the pub available to help someone in distress or there is someone in the community located within 5 minutes of the venue, who can have a conversation with a person who is in distress.
3.) During a suicide intervention is advice giving helpful?
Generally speaking, no. The act of just listening without offering feedback is powerful. Sometimes people will either just need to express their grief, or if they want advice they will ask for it. If you want to provide feedback on what you've noticed, ask them if it's ok first and term it with an "I statement". For instance: "I've noticed you've not been yourself lately. Is it ok if I tell you what I've noticed?"
4.) Why is suicide prevention training important?
Having conversation tools to guide you in a chat with someone in distress is more important than being unequipped if someone is unable to find hope, a reason or to be dissuaded from a suicide plan.
5.) What are the main ingredients of a successful conversation with someone in distress, who has shown the signs of suicide distress?
Trust and confidentiality. Without trust there would not be a conversation around someone in suicide distress is feeling. Such things are usually deeply personal and a conversation around how someone is feeling requires a commitment to confidentiaility - where the name of the person experiencing distress is not shared with anyone else.
When someone helping another in distress meets them with respect and concern, and that person feels heard with their emotions validated, then trust can be built and they can start to feel safe again.
