What's the best approach to take if you know someone who may be considering suicide?

Question

This person just got fired from their job. They've also recently suffered from ailing health, an emotionally devastating break-up, and depression after failed attempts at a few new relationships. Anything I can do, I will. Better safe than sorry, even at the risk of being intrusive.

Answer 1

I'm sorry that you are going through this. A suicidal person plans how they are going to do it. Has this person given away belongings or anything like that? Best to keep an eye on them.
I speak from experience. I've tried to kill myself twice, the last time being just about 2 weeks ago. I was court ordered into a mental hospital where I spent 8 days. Best thing that could have happened to me.
Sometimes people will have no idea what's going on inside of you. After being sick and missing so much work, I was unable to pay my bills. I almost got evicted, lost my truck, had to scramble to get the electric paid. Plus my family got sick of my sickness, and they won't talk to me anymore, so I didn't have them to talk to. I'd been having health problems, I was too medicated, I had several weird things happen in rapid succession (guy ran into me on purpose in a road rage incident, I had my purse stolen from me on the way to the bus stop - I could go on, but you get the idea. I was trapped in my apartment without a vehicle or phone (in stolen purse), and was completely isolated. I couldn't even call 911 if I wanted to. I'd been planning on doing it, but I picked this particular night beause I felt lonely, unloved, everything was F'd up and I couldn't fix it, and the pain was intolerable. I resolved to kill myself that night, and the weird thing is, I wasn't sad about it at all. I was determined. I wrote a suicide note that I emailed to a couple people at work, mainly with instructions for my cats. If you'd like to read it, here's the URL: http://diesmallweed.spaces.live.com/blog/
Every one, if you even think someone is contemplating suicide, do some kind of intervention. You could save a life.
Good luck to you.

Answer 2

You're right; better safe than sorry. I've been in your situation and learned that the hard way. Do two things right away. Invite your friend round for a meal. Be specific; name a time and make all the arrangements so it's as easy as possible for them and they don't have to take any initiatives. If you say vaguely "you should come round for an evening some time " a depressed person won't. Secondly, talk to someone like the Samaritans, Lifeline or a doctor, preferably your friend's doctor, about your fears. Don't delay. And don't think you're being melodramatic or overreacting. If you turn out to be wrong and your friend isn't suicidal, you won't regret having erred on the side of caution.

Answer 3

Well, having been in your place more than a few times, here is what I've learned:

first you ask if they are thinking about doing anything to themselves--asking if they want to end their life may not be what the thought is. It may be a simple "I want to stop the pain"

If so, ask them how they plan to do that--do they have a plan, did they want some help (ie you can help them look for a doctor or a councellor or a massage therapist--or clean their bathroom) whatever you can offer.

Ask if they feel overwhelmed--if so, ask if they want to help you write down a list of what is really bothering them--what may be bothering them about all of these things may be surprising to you--because you can't assume that this string is the reason for the depression.

If they ever mention to you that they've tried--ask them how? & what made them stop. This is important--if they stopped by own free will or GOd, that is great--but they still need help.

If they've stopped b/c they were unsucessful you need to do evyerhting you can to get them to seek professional help--but you can't save them. & You have to learn that inside of your heart--that you can't save them. NOt to say you shouldn't try.

If they ever call you & say "goodbye" or want to tell you what a great friend you've been (in the past) it is OK to call the police & send the police to their apt & tell the POLICE what is going on.

Trust me, say you were overreacting--you can always cover it with at least you care--they may not understand right away but overall, you'll feel better--because you tried and that's all you can do.

Answer 4

Be there for your friend sure, but a lot of people who actually do suicide wont say a lot, they will just do it. If you are really worried about this person, you need advice from your local mental health service. I dont know where you live but in Australia if someone is really contemplating suicide there are professional people that actually travel to see that person and assess them, and if need be have them foreably taken to a facility that will be able to help him/her.

At the very least they will be able to advise you on your best course of action, eg....looking for signs that this person is indeed thinking of taking their own life. They are the people to contact....the more information you have, the better you will be able to help this person......but do it quickly...a person will suicide when you may least expect it.

Answer 5

Talk to them. Ask them if they are considering hurting or killing themselves, and encourage them to get help. Your local hospital emergency room is a good place to start if they are planning suicide, there they will connect them with the right resources.

Many people are afraid to ask, afraid they will put an idea in their head, but so often when friends are concerned that their friends are suicidal, they are correct, and intervention can save their life.

Another resource may be a local CONTACT number which is often found in the yellow pages. Do not wait this out, talk to your friend, offer him/her help, and try with all you've got to get them to seek professional help.

Answer 6

If you think that they are on the verge of killing themself then you might want to help this person by taking them to the nearest hospital with a psychiatric unit for an evaluation. You would be doing this person a big favor rather than waiting and watching them kill themself and feeling guilty later.

Answer 7

you know this person that will help. let this person that you will be there no matter what. and talk to a preacher or pastor or priest or any church person that you can talk to. just sit down at talk to this person all night or all day what ever it takes. and lend a shoulder to cry on and be their too wipe the tears, let this person know that you will stand by them no matter what. if you have to stay with this person 24/7 . if you are a religous person let them know how much GOD loves them and that GOD will never ever leave them or hurt them. i will put you and your friend into my prayer. may the LORD be with and give you both strngth that you both need.

Answer 8

Don't take this negatively, i mean no offense, but is that you who is considering to do suicide?
If no is your answer then good...
For my answer...

Ask them what will happen if the commit it...
Will it be benificial...
Will it solve his/her problem...
just tell them all negative effects of commiting a sucide then tell them that if they do that the boss that fired him, the people who have the same ailment that he have, the one that break-up with them, and those who dislike him will not be sorrowful for they will think that they have done the right thing...

Answer 9

They should talk to someone who is positive who they can trust. If they refuse, then someone should speak to his or her family and let them know as you would not want it on your conscience if the person followed through with it and you did nothing.

Answer 10

dont say anything beacuse u dont want them to feel embarrased because they wont confide in you because u know there secret but if u feel there suicidal try to be a friend so u fill that emptyness. a friend will help not put u on blast eventually talking about all the positive things in there life will bring them back to reality..and they wont feel ashamed that you know...it will be ur little secret..