What would you say to stop a man to take his own life?

Question

I have had people in chat rooms before, they could be liars.

If you find a person (an Atheist), on the internet or outside of it. What will you say to stop it? But first of all, do you want to stop it?

PLEASE ANSWER WITHOUT INVOLVING GOD IN YOUR ANSWER. because the person is an Atheist, he must have thought a lot about this decision, so there is nothing you can say to change his belief at this point. So, give an answer between HUMAN TO HUMAN.

Answer 1

Really hard to do over the internet, where you're limited to words -- easily misinterpreted on both sides.

General guidelines are to keep him talking. Don't try to solve problems then and there, people often respond to that by going even more negative. Sound him out on whether there is someone in his area that he can talk with; if so, encourage him to do so.

Meanwhile, open a second browser window and try to google up a suicide prevention hotline in his area or a national one. If you find something, give him that number.

One approach is to make a verbal contract with him, that he agrees to give it 24 hours and to call a hotline or talk with a counselor locally. IF you're comfortable with it, tell him that you'll be back in the chat-room in 24 hours and you expect to him to be there as well. Make a different time if needed to accomodate your life, but make sure you're there.

Do the best that you can and don't stress about it. It's very possible that these are people who are just looking for attention. Or that they're ashamed of it afterwards and embarassed to have further contact with someone who's seen them so vulnerable.

Have you tried asking in the Psychology section (under Social Sciences, I think)? There's lots of information and advice going about (websites, university health centres, etc.) on this issue; read up so you feel more comfortable.

Answer 2

If someone truley wants to end their life nothing you can say or do will make a difference. They might just need someone to talk to. Find out the real problem and then try to show them ways they can solve it

Answer 3

Say nothing! Let him do the talking and you do the listening. That is what he needs most. If he really wanted to kill himself he would have done it already , without telling anyone. If he threatens, He is calling out for help.

Answer 4

i would listen to the person try to take them on a walk to see if that helps them want to talk more. i would be there friend and see if that halps. talking to people does not help often it is listening that does lots of help

Answer 5

Stay alive so that you can take revenge on the people that have hurt you, if that's why you're suicidal. If you're dead then they "win". (I don't mean a violent type of revenge)