suicide?

hi, I am very concerned for my friend and i would like to help me, because i don't know what to do.
He keeps telling me he will commit suicide, he changed so much these days and now he stays all the time at home and doesn't talk to anyone. He suffers from depression, but doesn't want to go for therapy. What should I do? Can I call a police or someone?

Hi, i think the first thing to do would be to talk to a suicide hotline or a crisis line. They will be able to give you great advice on what to do. Suicide threats should not be taken lightly since they are often serious. It sounds like your friend is very withdrawn and depressed which are big risk factors for suicide. Is he close to his parents or other family members? Maybe you could talk to them too? Have you tried asking him why he feels suicidal? If you know why, you might be able to help him with that too. i think it's great that you are concerned, but I would try to leave calling the police, etc as they are unlikely to be sympathetic, while a suicide hotline counsellor would be. Eventually therapy is going to be necessary, but it's getting him there that's the problem...

i really hope you can find someone to help. He might be angry at first, so be prepared for that, but you are doing this to save his life, and he will understand that one day.

good luck - tammy

tammy's right proto.....
those crisis lines can be a real help....even if he retaliates.....slowly....but sternly tell him he's got to......and if you can...be the one to talk to him.....if he's told you he is suicidal then surely he feels he can confide in you...if not too much...atleast a little..
don't be hasty......keep the number of the police at hand if you know he's going to do it or something for sure....but otherwise don't....that may also falter his trust in you...

for now...just try and talk to him...let him vent.....try and distract his mind from suicide...and then slowly bring it up...that maybe he could visit a therapist.....

i hope it works out....

proto id suggest letting ur friend know that ur there for him if he needs u. allow him to talk about suicide and death. i know on the several times i've been really suicidal i really wanted to be able to talk to someone openly about what i was thinking.

i know from experience of being at the other side of things (talking to someone else who is suicidal) that it is easier to try and change the subject away from suicide but thats not always helpful. dont fear that if u encourage ur friend to talk about suicide u will be encouraging him to actually go through with it - it doesn't work like that.

also i was lucky last time i was close to killing myself that i had a friend who understood i just wanted company. suicide hotlines are good and yes suggest he talk to them, but I find that having somebody i know physically beside me (not necessarily to talk to) is more comforting than talking to a stranger on the phone. but then again we are all different and maybe the anonymity of a suicide hotline phone call might be better for ur friend.

take care of urself as well tho. if u dont feel strong enough to be the one to talk to ur friend thats ok. it can be a really tough situation to be in. carers of suicidal people need support too.

there are plenty of websites out there which will give more advice. try samaritans.org for starters.

i hope ur friend gets the help he needs soon

thank u all for the advise, I'll keep talking to him and hope he will pass this . thnx again

Just hang in there and be there for him. If he shuts himself up in his house, call him, go by, just keep that lifeline open to him. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

Pookie Bear