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Take the person’s distress seriously before trying to work out what ChatGPT said. Thank them for telling you, ask directly whether they are thinking about hurting themselves or ending their life, and find out whether they may act soon. If they may be in immediate danger or cannot stay safe, contact local emergency services or a crisis line and stay with them if you can do so safely.
What to say first
Keep your voice calm and make it clear that you are listening. You could say, “I’m glad you told me. I care about you, and I’m here to listen.” OpenAI’s trusted-contact guidance offers this example: “I am here with you. I am really sorry you are carrying this. Can we keep talking about this together?”
Listen without judgment. Avoid minimizing what they feel, reacting with shock, making them feel guilty, lecturing them about the value of life, or arguing about whether they understood the chatbot correctly. The immediate issue is how they are doing and whether they are safe.
Ask directly whether they might hurt themselves
Use clear, plain language. OpenAI suggests asking, “Have you been thinking about hurting yourself?” If they say yes, stay with the conversation and ask whether they might act today or soon. You can ask, “Are you thinking about doing something to hurt yourself today or sometime soon?” and “What could help you feel safe right now?”
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WHO guidance also recommends asking directly and following up to understand whether the person has a concrete plan. Asking about suicide does not provoke suicide. You do not need to diagnose the person or decide from one answer that they are safe; if you are uncertain, involve qualified support.
Choose the next step based on urgency
| What you know | What to do |
|---|---|
| They may act soon, have a plan, cannot stay safe, or need urgent medical attention. | Contact local emergency services or a crisis helpline now. Stay with them if you can do so safely, and involve another trusted person or qualified professional. |
| No immediate danger has been identified. | Keep listening and offer to contact a crisis line, mental-health professional, or another trusted person together. Agree on a specific time to check in again. |
If there may be immediate danger
Do not leave the person to manage an urgent situation alone if you can safely remain with them. Contact local emergency services or a crisis helpline. If you are in the United States, OpenAI’s crisis-support guidance says to call or text 988; it identifies 911 as an option for urgent medical needs. Outside the United States, use a local crisis service; OpenAI points readers to Find A Helpline. Local numbers and services vary by location.
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If you are concerned about access to something they could use to hurt themselves, seek help reducing that access only if doing so is safe for you and the person. Do not put yourself in danger.
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Offer practical support without taking over: “Would it help if we called or texted a crisis line together?” OpenAI lists that as a sample question. A crisis line can also advise someone who is worried about another person. You can offer to sit with them while they contact a professional or trusted person, then set a concrete follow-up—for example, agreeing when you will call or meet next.
In the United States, 988 offers phone, text, and chat access. Its guidance describes conversations as confidential, but options and terms vary among services, so check the local provider’s information.
Do not promise to keep a self-harm plan secret
If they tell you they have a plan to hurt themselves, do not agree to conceal it. The 988 Lifeline advises telling the person you care about them and need to get help. Bring in another trusted person or qualified service rather than trying to carry the situation alone.
A friend or trusted contact can offer care, but should not be the person’s only safety plan. OpenAI says its Trusted Contact feature is not intended to make contacts counselors or crisis responders.
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You do not need to settle whether the person interpreted a ChatGPT response correctly before helping them. Focus first on their safety and support needs. Once urgent concerns are addressed, they may choose to preserve relevant details or raise a product concern with the service provider. OpenAI says its support team can help with product and account issues, but does not provide mental-health guidance; contacting product support is not a substitute for crisis care.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What ChatGPT’s Trusted Contact feature does—and does not do
OpenAI describes Trusted Contact as an optional support feature. In situations its systems and trained reviewers identify as potentially serious, a person may receive a brief notification encouraging them to check in with their trusted contact. OpenAI says chat transcripts are not shared with the contact. It also cautions that notifications are intentionally limited and may not reflect exactly what the person is experiencing.
The feature is not an emergency service, crisis-response system, or substitute for mental-health care. A notification—or the absence of one—cannot establish whether someone is safe. The feature’s availability and behavior may change; see OpenAI’s current Trusted contacts in ChatGPT information.
Quick Recap
Useful contacts and guidance
- OpenAI: Being someone’s trusted contact — sample check-in language and guidance for trusted contacts.
- OpenAI: Crisis Helpline Support in ChatGPT — crisis-support information and regional direction.
- 988 Lifeline: Help Someone Else — practical guidance for supporting someone at risk.
- 988 Lifeline: What to Expect — information about 988 access and what to expect when contacting it.
- WHO: Suicide — questions and answers, including guidance on asking directly.
- WHO: Signs to look out for: Suicide prevention health workers — guidance on signs and follow-up questions.
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