In my clinical work, I encounter again and again the same simple truth: Prevention begins long before the moment of crisis. Not when everything is already collapsing, but in the small, everyday moments. When we notice a change, ask a brave question, and reach out to extend a hand.
People in distress almost always show signs. Sometimes it’s slight changes in mood, withdrawal from friends, frequent cancellations of meetings, sleep disturbances, or statements that may sound small but conceal deep despair: “There’s no point,” “It’s better without me.” In the digital space this can happen with sudden disappearance, or on the contrary, with a dramatic and polarized writing.
The challenge is to identify the signs, to dare to name them, and above all, not to underestimate their meaning.
Having direct conversations
This is where the conversation comes in. A simple and direct conversation can save lives. Contrary to the common myth, asking someone if they are thinking of harming themselves does not put ideas into their head. On the contrary, it is a question that conveys caring, reduces loneliness, and opens the door to an honest dialogue. Sometimes just listening, without rushing to “fix,” without minimizing or preaching, is already a lifesaving step.
I vividly remember moments when two seemingly small interventions changed the course: one direct question that opened the floodgates, followed by setting a close point of further contact, later that evening, the next morning; or an immediate practical action – scheduling an appointment together, calling the doctor together, even setting a reminder on the phone. It’s seemingly simple, but in practice is lifesaving.
Prevention begins with human connection
In recent years, I have learned that human connection is at the heart of prevention. Continuity, even if brief, is the difference between loneliness and a sense of support. Simplicity wins: direct and clear language that helps family members and friends move from paralysis to action. Early intervention is far more effective than “waiting for it to pass.”
For managers in the community, at work, and in education, there is a double responsibility: to instill basic identification routines, to create a clear and accessible channel for reaching out, to ensure continuity of care, and to speak in an empathetic language that reduces shame.
The bottom line is clear: Prevention begins with human connection – not with complex diagnostic tools but with a look, a brave question, and coordinating one small step forward.
If in doubt, ask. Better an intervention that is too early than a missed opportunity that is too late. Sometimes it is the difference between life and death.
The writer is head psychiatrist at Taliaz.