Please help, I'm really scared!?

Question

My friend has severe depression. She cuts herself and has even told me that she is planning to kill herself by the end of the year. I've told her parents and they are trying to make her get help, but she won't take it! I call her every night and see her every weekend to try to help her, but she never talks to me on the phone for more than 2 minutes, and she just sits in her room and dosen't really talk to me while I am there. I'm really scared for her and dont want her to kill herself. How else can I help her?

Answer 1

Really sounds like a severe depression. She must see a specialist. All you can offer is understanding and tolerance.
But don’t offer PITY!!!

If she talks about suicide, tell her you understand it perfectly, but you wouldn’t know how to do it. Ask her about details and methods, Tha usually awakens some understanding.

Answer 2

How old is she? The best thing you can do is be there for her in her time of need. If this girl is a minor, then her parents can have her committed against her will. If she is hurting herself by cutting on herself, her parents can have her committed against her will. I am in Criminal Justice and I know that it is against the law to hurt yourself. The state can step in if someone tells them, but there has to be someone that cares about her enough to make that call. She is depressed and it is the main cause of deaths this time of year. Please --- if you are a true friend and you care about this person --- then make some other calls or tell some other adult. Can you live with yourself-- If she does commits suicide? Think real hard and ask yourself that question. It is for her own good and you have to believe that. Do what is right.

Answer 3

http://www.save.org/

KNOW WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Symptoms of Depression
Warning Signs of Suicide

KNOW WHAT TO DO

Stigma associated with depressive illnesses can prevent people from getting help. Your willingness to talk about depression and suicide with a friend, family member, or co-worker can be the first step in getting help and preventing suicide.

If you see the warning signs of suicide…

Begin a dialogue by asking questions. Suicidal thoughts are common with depressive illnesses and your willingness to talk about it in a nonjudgmental way can be the push a person needs to get help. Questions to ask:

“Do you ever feel so badly that you think of suicide?”

“Do you have a plan?”

“Do you know when you would do it (today, next week)?"

“Do you have access to what you would use?”

Asking these questions will allow you to determine if your friend is in immediate danger, and get help if needed. A suicidal person should see a doctor or psychiatrist immediately. Calling 911 or going to a hospital emergency room are valid options. Always take thoughts of or plans for suicide seriously.

Never keep a plan for suicide a secret. Don’t worry about endangering a friendship if you truly feel a life is in danger. It's better to regret something you did, than something you didn't do to help a friend.

Don't try to minimize problems or shame a person into changing her mind. Your opinion of a person's situation is irrelevant. Trying to convince a person it's not that bad, or that she has everything to live for will only increase her feelings of guilt and hopelessness. Reassure her help is available, that depression is treatable, and that suicidal feelings are temporary.

If you feel the person isn't in immediate danger, acknowledge the pain as legitimate and offer to work together to get help. Make sure you follow through. This is one instance where you must be tenacious in your follow-up. Help find a doctor or a mental health professional, participate in making the first phone call, or go along to the first appointment. If you're in a position to help, don't assume that your persistence is unwanted or intrusive. Risking your feelings to help save a life is a risk worth taking.

Answer 4

I don't blame her for refusing "help"--what does that mean, she gets to waste time talking to some therpist she doesn't even know? People kill themselves because they feel alone and depressed. What she needs is love (her parents could help themselves, rather then outsourcing it) and companionship. Maybe she's in the wrong school, or the wrong classes. Or maybe she's just a teenager and has been taking her emo records too seriously. You've got to find out what inspires her, and go with that.

There is nothing wrong with killing yourself. If a friend of mine made that decision rationally, I'd support it. Your friend does not want to kill herself, or she already would have. She just needs real compassion and whatever it takes to remind her that the world is beautiful.

Answer 5

All suicide threats should be taken seriously when a person is deeply depressed.I'm glad you care so much.It seems you have tried a lot of things. How about phoning the police and asking them for help and explain the situation.I would mention it to her parents first but even if they don't agree I would try anyway if it was my friend.
I'm pretty sure they would have to step in and get her to a psychiatric ward for help.
Good luck.I hope she is O.K.

Answer 6

Your doing all you can. Your a good friend. Its up to her and her parents, Hopefully they will get her help. If it makes you feel any better when I was a kid I was a cutter and I tried suicide and looking back I did it for the attention. I never had professional help for it I just out grew it. I'm healthy and happy now. Good luck

Answer 7

But be there for her. Let her know you care. Encourage her to get help. Ask to at least try counselling or some other form of help as a favour to you. You should also let her know how this situation is affecting you.

Answer 8

You didn't say she'd stopped eating.
If she is under 18, her parents can get meds,
and put them in her food.
She will start to feel better soon.
When she is better her parents can tell
her what meds shes on.
She may realize what the problem is by then,
and ask for help.

Answer 9

Well when someone we knew told us that they were gunna do that my mom callled to police and they helped him. Just pray and try to get her some help..maybe go to the school counselor or a family friend..or someone you feel comfortable w/ helping her. You can't jsut try to conveince her that she needs help..oyu have to take her to help or bring help to her. Don't give up.

Answer 10

All that you can truly do is have her loved ones and friends show her how special she is, how loved she is, how important she is. Emphasize on things that she is good at, try to pull that into what makes her so important, but most of all, don't give up on her.