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What is #LALALA?

#LALALA stands for Listen. Ask. Love. Act. Link. Advocate. It’s our campaign to help raise awareness about how you can help create a culture of empathy and encouragement for those struggling with depression and thoughts of suicide. #LALALA reminds us that we all have the power to help. The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health is the beneficiary of proceeds from the annual WonderBus Festival designed to raise awareness about important mental and behavioral health and wellness issues . 

LALALA Resource Sheet (PDF)

Listen. Ask. Love. Act. Link. Advocate.

Support circles

Listen

The first and easiest step to take when you are worried that someone you know might be suffering from depression is to simply listen. Validate their feelings by telling them you want to hear what’s going on without judgement. Listening encourages people to open up more, so that they tell you about signs of depression, like hopelessness, insomnia, persistent sadness, or suicidal thoughts.
Men embracing

Ask

Encourage conversation by asking questions; this shows that you care enough to know more about their struggles and depression. Specifically ask: “Are you thinking about killing yourself?” This is one of the most important questions because asking it is proven to decrease – not increase – suicidal thoughts. Asking about the possibility of suicide may save the person’s life.
Friends embracing

Love

Listening and asking are acts of love. Listening with compassion and empathy and without dismissing or judging further reflects love. That feeling of being loved may help someone find the confidence to reach out for help from you, or experts.
Hands holding in support

Act

Keep a person in crisis safe. Ask them if they know how they would hurt themselves, and then separate them from anything they could use to accomplish it. Work to put time and distance between the person and their chosen method, especially dangerous items like firearms and medications. Stay with the person until the crisis passes or they are connected to professional resources that can help them.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Link

If you think someone might be in immediate danger, don’t hesitate to call 911. Link them to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) and to professional mental health services. Know that mental health treatment definitely works – research shows it decreases depression and reduces suicide. And link them to other people who can provide support – research has also shown connectedness with others acts as a buffer against hopelessness and psychological pain. And remember to follow up after the immediate crisis passes, and repeat: Listen, Ask, Love, Act.
Support group

Advocate

Get informed and get involved. Start conversations to reduce the stigma. Everyone can help raise awareness about the suicide epidemic (each day nearly 130 people in our country die by suicide) and about suicide prevention. Advocate for better access to mental health care. Advocate for more resources and treatments. Advocate for more funding for research to better understand and treat depression and suicide.

WonderBus 2019

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#LALALA resources

#LALALA resources

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