Which response aligns with the guideline about responding to a peer mentioning suicide?

• A. Immediately call professional help
• B. Ignore the comment
• C. Discuss privately and document
• D. Follow established protocol and seek appropriate help

Answer: (D)

When someone hints at suicide, the priority is safety and following the proper steps your organization has in place. The best response is to follow established protocol and seek appropriate help. This ensures the right people are alerted, the person receives timely and appropriate intervention, and actions are documented for safety and accountability. It also prevents delays or improvising a response, which could put the peer at greater risk.

In practice, following protocol usually means assess the immediate risk, ensure the person isn’t left alone, and escalate to a supervisor or designated crisis resource, then involve mental health professionals or emergency services if needed, while documenting what was done. You’re not handling it on your own—you’re activating the system designed to respond safely and effectively.

Choosing to call professional help directly may skip internal steps and reporting channels, ignoring the comment completely is unsafe, and discussing privately and documenting alone may fail to secure urgent support. The protocol-based approach integrates safety, accountability, and appropriate care.