What responses do people at risk of suicide find most helpful and unhelpful from professionals and non-professionals?

People at risk of suicide frequently communicate suicidal thoughts to professionals and non-professionals. These groups, therefore, need to be aware of how best to respond. We aimed to identify helpful and unhelpful responses to communications of suicide risk from the perspective of those at risk to inform suicide prevention messaging and education. We conducted an online survey (n = 141) of members of an online reference group for an Australian mental health organisation with a history of suicide risk. Most respondents had repeatedly considered and attempted suicide. Indirect suicide communications were more common than direct communications. Listening without judgement was the most common helpful response and "minimizing" responses to suicidal thoughts and feelings, the most common unhelpful responses. We make recommendations for suicide prevention messages and professional education content based on these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]