Respond to the person first, not the claim about ChatGPT. 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. Stay with them if you can do so safely, and bring in other trusted people or qualified help.
What to say first
Keep your voice calm and make 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 another example: “I am here with you. I am really sorry you are carrying this. Can we keep talking about this together?”
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Listen without judging, minimizing, showing shock, or trying to debate whether the situation is “really that bad.” The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline advises against lecturing or using guilt. Your first goal is to understand what the person is facing and help them connect with support.
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Ask directly whether they are in danger
Use plain language: “Have you been thinking about hurting yourself?” Asking about suicide does not plant the idea, according to the World Health Organization. A direct, caring question can make it easier for someone to tell you what is happening.
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If they say yes, stay present and ask whether they might act today or soon, and what would help them feel safe right now. OpenAI’s guidance suggests: “Are you thinking about doing something to hurt yourself today or sometime soon?” and “What could help you feel safe right now?” You do not need to diagnose them or decide from one answer that they are safe.
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 service. Reduce access to dangerous means only if you can do so safely. |
| No immediate danger is 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 you are in the United States, OpenAI’s crisis-support guidance says to call or text 988 for crisis support; it identifies 911 for urgent medical needs. Outside the U.S., use local emergency services or find a local helpline through Find A Helpline. Numbers and available services depend on location, so check the local provider’s guidance.
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You can call or text a crisis line yourself for advice about someone you are worried about. The 988 Lifeline offers phone, text, and chat access and describes conversations as confidential; service terms and options can vary elsewhere.
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You should not have to manage this alone, and you are not expected to serve as a counselor or crisis responder. Offer to call or text a helpline together, contact a mental-health professional, or involve someone else the person trusts. You can say, “Would it help if we called or texted a crisis line together?”
If the person tells you they have a plan to hurt themselves, do not promise to keep it secret. Explain that you care about them and need to get help. Involve appropriate support even if the conversation is difficult, and prioritize immediate safety.
Address the ChatGPT concern after immediate safety
While the person is distressed, do not argue about what ChatGPT did or whether they interpreted it correctly. Focus on their safety and what help they need. Once urgent needs are addressed, they may choose to keep relevant details or contact the service provider about a product concern.
OpenAI says its support team can help with product and account issues but does not provide mental-health guidance. Reporting a product concern is not a substitute for crisis care.
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What ChatGPT’s Trusted Contact feature does—and doesn’t do
OpenAI describes Trusted Contact as an optional support feature. In situations its systems and trained reviewers identify as potentially serious, the person may receive a brief notification encouraging them to check in with a trusted contact. OpenAI says it does not share chat transcripts with that contact. It also warns that notifications are intentionally limited and may not reflect exactly what the person is experiencing.
A trusted contact is not an emergency service, crisis responder, or substitute for mental-health care. If someone tells you they may hurt themselves, respond to what they say directly rather than relying on whether a product notification arrived.
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Sources and further help
- OpenAI Help Center: Being someone’s trusted contact
- OpenAI Help Center: Crisis Helpline Support in ChatGPT
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Help Someone Else
- World Health Organization: Suicide
- OpenAI Help Center: Trusted contacts in ChatGPT
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: What to Expect
- World Health Organization: Signs to look out for—Suicide prevention health workers
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