5 E: Encourage Action

Know and share resources. 

Brave talk means encouraging action. This comes in many forms but may look like:

• Supporting self-care in all forms.
• Sharing local resources.
• Encouraging them to save a crisis text line or lifeline in their phone.
• Suggesting professional support if the continue to feel badly.

These are all important action-oriented steps to keep in mind. Simply sharing and feeling heard is also an action and, in many instances, it will be enough to make a difference.

If the conversation is intense, hard, or leaves you feeling uneasy, it’s important to check in with yourself and find a way to restore yourself. Part of this is checking in with yourself after you’ve had a conversation. You can do this by taking a few moments to check in with yourself after you walk through all the steps with a friend. More specifically:

• Check in with yourself: how did the exchange leave you feeling?
• If you need support or to process, find a trusted friend, confidant or therapist.
• Don’t feel obliged to take on everything alone.
• Solicit support for your friend when you are in over your head.
• Save the helpline to your phone so you have it on hand.

Of course knowing how to access resources is important. Here are key National resources to keep on hand.

• Crisis Text Line: Text Together To 741-741
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 988 Or 1-800-273-8255 (talk)
• Trevor Project For LGTBQ+: Call 1-866-488-7386 Or Text Start To 678 678
• Trans Lifeline: Call 1-877-565-8860