Helping Friends Who May Be Suicidal If you have a friend who is distressed, depressed or unusually troubled by family problems, bad grades, or recent breakup of a relationship, don’t be afraid to ask if he or she would like to talk with you. Listen with empathy, ask directly about any suicidal thoughts or plans, make an action plan to get your friend to help, to a parent, teacher, or counselor. Most important, if a friend voluntarily confides in you that he or she doesn’t want to live, but asks you not to tell anyone, never promise to keep the secret. Instead, offer support and alert a responsible adult about your friend. A true friend doesn’t keep this kind of secret, but tells someone else who may then be able to save the person’s life. It is important to remember that you cannot be responsible for another person’s actions but you can listen to their concerns, support them and help them get professional help.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline If you or someone you know is in crisis or in need of immediate help, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free hotline available 24 hours a day to anyone in emotional distress or suicidal crisis.
Dr.Phil recently aired a show on teen suicide prevention in which PsychAlive’s Dr. Lisa Firestone discussed the many ways we can all reach out to our youth and help prevent suicide. The full episode, “Teens Under Pressure,” is now available to view online. Click here to tune in for free
