On this page, you can read press articles about Suicide and Crisis Center events and news. Articles are categorized by year. Just click or tap (if viewing on a mobile device) on a year to expand and close each section.

The HELP Model: An Intuitive Approach to Layperson Intervention in Suicide

Recent research in the area of suicide prevention focuses primarily on interventions by trained mental health professionals. Layperson education continues to be a concerning gap in prevention strategies. The “HELP model” was developed at the Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas (SCC) by Chris Thorstad to teach crisis intervention, as it pertains to suicide, to the layperson in a simple, easy-to-follow format. The author wishes to acknowledge the presence and success of other acronymic approaches including SAVE, ACT, QPR, and WAIT among many from which this model is distinct. The HELP acronym was chosen based on a common question posed by the layperson: “How can I help someone thinking about suicide?” and was selected for easy remembrance and suitability for teaching intervention techniques. Crucially, it allowed the use of plain language incorporating the phrases “Explicitly ask about suicide, using the word suicide” and “Plan” as a call to action. The only advanced technique mentioned is a safety plan which has emerged as a standard for suicide prevention and can be found in ubiquity online (though the author acknowledges Stanley-Brown’s origination). Other models have included significant skills that require further teaching that may go beyond the time available for public outreach.

The following excerpt covering the HELP model is adapted from the SCC Crisis Line Training Manual:

H

Have a conversation when you notice warning signs. (Educate the layperson on the common warning signs of suicide. If applicable, directly discuss behaviors they’ve witnessed in an individual they voice concern about. Keep it simple, stick to starting a conversation when you notice warning signs as the key to this step. Simply put, if a person notices warning signs, they should open a dialogue.)

E

Explicitly ask about suicide, using the word “suicide”. (Educate the layperson on the importance of using the word “suicide” in the conversation. Sometimes, the person may be hesitant to confront the word. Using the word “suicide” removes the taboo and lets the concerned party know that the person across the table is someone they can talk about suicide with, openly, without stigma or shame.)

L

Listen without offering advice. Listen only to understand. (If anyone can say it, it’s probably not worth saying. Many times people make remarks like “things will get better” or “think of your family” – historically unhelpful and trite statements. Teach the person on how to listen, empathically respond, and try to understand the other person’s situation and accompanying feelings rather than give an opinion.)

P

Plan accordingly and follow-up frequently. (Briefly discuss risk, when to call 911, and how to write out a safety plan with the concerning party. The intervener should plan to follow-up within 24-48 hours of the conversation to see how things have progressed, if the safety plan is helping, and what adjustments are needed. Safety plans should include professional help including therapists, ERs, and crisis lines.)

This model is protected by copyright to prevent commercial restriction of its use. It is published for and intended to be used by laypersons and professionals for free for the public good. It may be adapted in whole or in part as deemed fit. It may not be sold, taught for a fee, or otherwise commercialized except as part of a substantially larger work of which the HELP model is included as only a minimal aspect.

Copyright © 2026 Suicide & Crisis Center of North Texas. All rights reserved.