Suicide Prevention for CRNAs: How to Recognize Risk and Help a Colleague

AANA Wellness Committee chair Crystal Hunnicutt, DNAP, CRNA, APRN, CNE, CHSE, CWP, and former committee member Chuck Griffis, PhD, CRNA, FAANA, discuss how to recognize changes, start a direct conversation, respond to a crisis, and continue offering support.

Mental health struggles are not always easy to see. A CRNA/nurse anesthesiologist or resident may continue caring for patients and meeting professional responsibilities while quietly feeling isolated, hopeless, or overwhelmed. In a high-performing healthcare community, it can be especially difficult to recognize when a coworker is struggling or to ask for help yourself.

Suicide prevention starts before a crisis. It includes reducing stigma, noticing changes, asking direct questions, connecting people with qualified support, and continuing to be there afterward. We asked AANA Wellness Committee chair Crystal Hunnicutt, DNAP, CRNA, FAANA, and former committee member Chuck Griffis, PhD, CRNA, FAANA, to share practical ways you can support your colleagues and friends.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. For suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, or concern about another person, call or text 988 or use the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline chat.

Reducing stigma and recognizing concern

Why is it important to talk openly about suicide prevention?

Crystal: Suicide and suicidal ideation are concerns within the nurse anesthesia community. Speaking openly and honestly about suicide helps reduce the stigma surrounding mental health challenges and creates an environment in which people feel safer asking for help. When someone can seek support and treatment before reaching a crisis point, there is a greater opportunity to intervene and potentially save a life.

As a professional community, we must communicate that experiencing a mental health challenge or seeking help does not make someone weak or diminish their ability to be a competent practitioner.

What misconceptions can prevent people from reaching out or offering help?

Crystal: Healthcare professionals may fear being seen as weak, unstable, or unable to practice safely. They may also worry about judgment, their professional reputation, or career consequences. We must normalize mental healthcare and reinforce that asking for help reflects strength and self-awareness.

Another harmful misconception is that asking someone about suicide will put the idea into their mind. Asking calmly and directly does not cause suicidal thoughts. It can give someone permission to speak honestly.

Chuck: The message must be consistent: It is OK not to be OK, and everyone needs help sometimes. A mental health condition does not automatically mean someone cannot practice safely with appropriate support and treatment.

What changes might signal that a colleague needs support?

Chuck: Look first for behavior that is uncommon for that person. A colleague may become quieter, more withdrawn, or more irritable. You may notice increased absences or tardiness, changes in eating, emotional numbness, depression, or isolation. Statements that express hopelessness, being a burden, wanting to end everything, or referring to a future when they will be gone should always be taken seriously. Evidence of self-harm, suicidal intent, or a plan requires immediate action.

No single change proves that someone is considering suicide. The important point is to notice meaningful changes, trust your concern, and reach out instead of waiting for certainty.

Starting the conversation

If you’re concerned about someone, how should you begin the conversation?

Chuck: Start with what you have noticed and use simple, caring language. You might say, “I’ve noticed you haven’t seemed like yourself lately. You seem down. What is going on?” You could also invite the person for coffee and ask how things are going away from the immediate pressures of the workplace.

Crystal: If you are worried about suicide, ask directly and calmly: ‘Are you thinking about suicide?’ Listen without judgment and allow the person to answer honestly. Do not minimize what they are feeling or rush to reassure them that everything will be fine.

What does meaningful support look like?

Chuck: Let the person know you are available by saying something as simple as, “I’m here for you if you need anything,” or “Tell me how you’re feeling and what’s going on.” Meaningful support does not always require a conversation. If a colleague is isolating or does not feel ready to talk, sitting beside them quietly with a warm smile can still communicate care.

Crystal: Small actions matter. Send a message, share a meal, invite the person to an activity, or ask how they are doing. Consistent contact reminds them that they have not been forgotten and do not have to face this alone.

Responding when someone is at risk

What should you do if someone says they are considering suicide?

Crystal: Take every statement about suicide seriously. Remain calm, listen without judgment, and ask whether the person has a plan or access to a way to harm themselves.

If there is immediate danger, stay with the person and call 911 or take them to the nearest emergency department. If it can be done safely, reduce their access to lethal means.

Do not manage the situation alone. Stay with the person while they call or text 988, or accompany them to a counselor, healthcare professional, or emergency department. Providing a resource is helpful but personally assisting them in accessing care offers greater support.

Chuck: QPR offers a simple framework: Question the person directly about suicide. Persuade them to pause and stay with you while help is arranged. Refer them to professional support such as 988, emergency services, or an Employee Assistance Program. During an urgent crisis, do not leave the person alone or allow them to drive.

How can colleagues help after the immediate crisis has passed?

Crystal: Support should not end when the immediate crisis is over. Continue checking in, listening without judgment, and reminding the person that they matter. Encourage them to follow their treatment and safety plans and make sure they know about available professional and organizational resources.

Peer support does not replace mental health treatment, but a trusted colleague can become an important bridge to that care. Continued connection can reduce isolation, restore hope, and reinforce a sense of belonging.

Chuck: Follow-up does not need to be complicated. Ask how the person is doing, invite them to sit with you, or check in over coffee. Show that your concern was not limited to one difficult moment.

Resources and next steps

Where can members turn for help?

Crystal: Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts, or anyone concerned about another person, can call or text 988 or use its online chat for free, confidential crisis support. If there is an immediate threat to life, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

Members can also contact a licensed mental health professional, primary healthcare provider, Employee Assistance Program, or workplace wellness resource.

Chuck: Become familiar with the resources available through AANA, your workplace, and your state association. Keep the information accessible and be prepared to use it for yourself or someone else.

What is one action every reader can take today?

Crystal: Save 988 and identify local mental health and crisis resources before an emergency. Consider completing QPR or Talk Saves Lives training to learn how to recognize warning signs, begin a difficult conversation, and connect someone with help.

Chuck: Be prepared to seek help when you need it and respond when someone else may be struggling. Timely intervention can save lives.

Keep the right resources close

One conversation can open the door to help, but preparation makes it easier to act. Save 988, review the crisis and mental health resources available through your workplace, and learn how to connect someone with professional support.

Crisis support: Call or text 988 or use the online chat. Call 911 if there is an immediate threat to life.

AANA wellness resources: Where to get help

FAQs

When should I call 988 instead of 911?

Call or text 988 when you or someone else is experiencing suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, or a mental health or substance-use crisis. You can also contact 988 when you are concerned about someone and need guidance. Call 911 when there is an immediate, life-threatening danger that requires emergency medical or law-enforcement assistance.

What are the warning signs that someone may be considering suicide?

Warning signs may include talking about wanting to die, feeling hopeless or trapped, believing they are a burden, withdrawing from others, experiencing extreme mood changes, using alcohol or drugs more often, or making a suicide plan. New or significant changes in a person’s behavior should always be taken seriously.

What should I do if someone says they are considering suicide?

Take every statement about suicide seriously. Stay calm, listen without judgment, and ask whether the person has a plan or access to a way to harm themselves. Do not leave the person alone during an urgent crisis or promise to keep suicidal thoughts secret.

Help connect the person with qualified support by remaining with them while they call or text 988. If there is an immediate threat to life, call 911 or take the person to the nearest emergency department. If it can be done safely, reduce access to lethal means.

Where can CRNAs/nurse anesthesiologists and residents find mental health support?

Support may be available through a licensed mental health professional, primary healthcare provider, Employee Assistance Program, workplace wellness program, state nurse anesthesiology association, or AANA wellness resources. Identifying these resources before a crisis makes it easier to act when you or a colleague needs help. Explore AANA wellness resources.

What is QPR suicide prevention training?

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer. It is a suicide-prevention training that teaches people how to recognize warning signs, ask someone directly about suicide, encourage them to accept help, and connect them with an appropriate resource. QPR is intended to help people respond to a crisis; it does not replace professional mental health care.