Without just giving the person the number for a suicide hotline (though that's probably a good idea), what's the best thing to say to a person who is seriously thinking about ending their life?
2006-08-12 19:51:06 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Psychology
First of all, if they give some sort of warning or hint, or even confide in you about it, take him/her seriously.
DON'TS:
Don't try to change the topic, don't make a joke about it, and don't try in any way to evade the situation or (god forbid) leave the person alone. Don't lie, don't try to make the person feel guilty ("think about your family, how would they feel?"), DON'T make weak or false reassurances ("everything is gonna be alright," "it's OK,") DON'T give instant advice ("you should just stop thinking about it."), and DON'T show horror, disbelief, disgust, anger, or any intense emotion, for that matter. Doing any of these things would make matters worse.
SUGGESTIONS:
Very calmly, rationally, and non-judgmentally, talk the person through how the thought of suicide came to be. "How" questions, or "tell me about..." questions are generally better than "why" questions, because these are less accusatory. Let him/her speak his/her mind. Listen and respond attentively and appropriately. Help the person fully verbalize, share, and even self-address his/her core problems. Of course, it depends on the situation or your relationship how involved you are in helping solve the problems he/she perceives, and in helping him/her realize what there is to LIVE for. Also, you may want to contact a therapist and/or priest for assistance. Try to keep in contact with the person. You may want to have him/her under observation for the duration of the perceived threat to himself/herself. Good luck.
2006-08-12 20:20:51 · answer #1 · answered by ELI 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The secret is in being a person that understands his sufferring. He/she is suffering from something that's hurthing him/her. So listen be an emphatic person and understand what the person involved is going through.
Then afterwards be sure that the only committing a suicide, believing for sure that there is no one to help him and that his place is no longer here, has found a friend that can understands his sufferring.
I've been through this...i wanted to die...i wanted to commit suicide and believe me that is what seeked in other. Not a person who tells me how sad he is...what am i going to leave behind me...that i am wrong or million other things but a person who really understands the suffering and the things i was going through. LISTENING ---is the miracle activity.
2006-08-13 04:54:13 · answer #2 · answered by Ant ;-) 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They should not kill themselves for several reasons:
1. Everyone they know will be terribly hurt by it.
2. Just think of the reaction of the person who finds their dead body. ( this is what stopped me from killing myself once)
3. When someone kills their self, that is all people will remember them for. Do they want to be remembered forever as a suicide?
4. Things will get better. Depression clouds the mind and perception. Negative thought get magnified and everything seems out of control or overwhelming. It just looks that way. The first step to get back in control is to simply want to get better.
If you are really worried, call 911 and have them taken to the hospital. It might save their life.
2006-08-13 03:02:09 · answer #3 · answered by Fiasco de Bacle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on a case by case basis. The best option that I know is to find out the reasoning for the desire to end their own lives. Most of the time, the reason for suiside is loneliness or depression. I hope that this does not happen to anyone. Suicide is a very sad way to go.
2006-08-13 03:00:23 · answer #4 · answered by JJ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if they've told you that they're going to kill themselves, chanses are that they really don't want to and that they're really asking for help. just try talking to them calmly. tell them that it's not worth giving their life up. explain to them all the good things that they have in their life. and if they've had a crappy life, then tell them that things can't possibly get any worse than they are and that it will only get better. explain to them how sad it would make you and their family/friends if they did something like that. you have to show them that they're loved. just be there for them. even if it's just sitting there with them and not talking, at least they're not alone. this person needs all the emotional support they can get right now, and you may be their only hope. after you calm them down a bit, explain to them that it may be a good idea for them to see a psychiatrist, no matter how much they don't want to. it'll help them work through their problems. at least then they'll have someone to talk to privately about everything bothering them. good luck...
2006-08-13 03:03:52 · answer #5 · answered by greendayrockgods 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some folks have given great suggestions.
Keep positive and keep the hope
Take it step by step, one by one
Be there and be consistent and open and patient.
Most of the time, the cry for help is just that, the person is crying to be saved, they want to be valued and loved. It is when they stop asking for help ...... they follow through.
2006-08-13 06:09:01 · answer #6 · answered by Keanu 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well...i would hav said that the person is not the only one that doesnt want to live...many pple live that way and i would tell them itz normal to hav many personal problems..but commiting suicide wont do anything...not like itz gonna make the world safer...and peaceful..i would tell them to stay calm and sit on a comfortable couch and ask them to think about why he wanted to commit suicide and think about BETTER options than dieing
2006-08-13 03:29:04 · answer #7 · answered by lava_hotty1234 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
DO IT !!! That's right egg them on !!!
Fact the people who tell you that they are going to commit suicide are asking for help and not wanting to commit suicide. It is a dramatic way of getting the attention that they want right away. So give them the attention.
Tell them to hold off for a couple hours so you can sell tickets and set up some chairs for the audience.
:o)
2006-08-13 06:30:11 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
Just talk to the person...remind them of what they have to live for. It helps if you have something physical to help keep the person grounded....for example, a pic of you two having fun, a favorite pet, something to help the person see his/her worth.
2006-08-13 03:01:28 · answer #9 · answered by aurora 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
tell them how good of a person they are constantly tis mind over matter praise lots of it.Make the mind view a better picture of its worth.
2006-08-13 03:22:53 · answer #10 · answered by sassy brat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋