What to Do if an Online Friend Is Suicidal

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One of the virtually frightening experiences a person can have is hearing a friend or loved one say they want to die. While it can exist tempting to cope with this data by labeling information technology as attention-seeking behavior or clinging to the myth that people who talk nigh suicide don't actually follow through (which is but untrue), it's of import to accept all warning signs of suicide and suicidal ideation seriously.

If the Chance of Suicide Is Imminent

If your friend is at risk of attempting suicide right now, call your local police department or 911 correct away. Imminent danger includes situations where the person is in possession of a weapon, pills, or other ways to follow through with suicide.

If possible, don't leave them lonely and practise your best to remove any items they tin can use to hurt themselves. If it is safety, you may also drive your friend to the emergency room. Doctors will assess their mental and concrete health and create a clear programme that will aid keep them safety.

If, on the other mitt, you believe the threat is serious, just not imminent, it'south still important to act, but you may accept the time to prove support, mind, and encourage them to seek professional help. Help is bachelor. Hither are some helpful tips from various suicide prevention resources.

Confirming Suicidal Thoughts

Don't exist afraid to ask, "Are you having thoughts of suicide?" Studies evidence that request at-risk friends and family members if they are thinking about suicide does not increase suicidal thoughts. You are not putting ideas in their head by asking. On the contrary, request will give you valuable information about how to proceed and aid.

Become the Facts

If the reply is yes, follow upwardly with these three questions:

• Accept y'all thought about how you would do it?
• Do you accept what you demand to behave out your plan?
• Do you know when yous volition do information technology?

Fortunately, the majority of people will either say that they accept no definite plans or that they don't have the nervus to do it themselves. Although this is however a serious situation, if their answers indicate that they don't have a program, they are probably not in imminent danger of hurting themselves. Take their words equally a plea for assist and proceed with helping them to become the assist that they need. Urge them to seek professional help every bit soon as possible.

If the answers they give you pb yous to believe they are in immediate danger, don't hesitate to contact the regime.

You lot may experience like you will lose their friendship if you lot take action. Your friend may even tell you that you are betraying them or making them aroused. Simply remember that you may permanently lose their friendship if y'all don't. When they're well again, they volition thanks.

Showing Back up

There are a number of different things yous tin can do to exist a supportive and empathetic friend. The key is to avoid beingness judgmental or dismissive of what your friend is feeling.

Speak From the Heart

In that location are no right or wrong things you can say if you are speaking out of love and business organization. Just be yourself. Testify that you care by talking to them, holding them while they cry, or any else is necessary. Enquiry has shown that acknowledging what people are experiencing may help them process their thoughts and may reduce their suicidal thoughts.

Heed

A suicidal person normally is carrying around some burden that they experience they simply tin can't handle anymore. Offer to heed every bit they share their feelings of despair, anger, and loneliness. Sometimes this is enough to lighten the load but enough for them to deport on.

Validate & Prove Openness

Be sympathetic, non-judgmental, patient, calm, and accepting. The person volition pick upwards on your attitude and begin to mirror it for themselves.

Go along Them Talking

Talking will allow them to reduce the emotional brunt they are carrying and give them time to calm downward. The longer you lot keep them talking, the more than you can take the edge off their desperation. As their momentum winds downwardly, it'southward harder for them to deed on their feelings.

Avoid Trying to Solve the Problem

Try not to offer quick solutions or scoff the person'due south feelings. How big they perceive the problem to be and how much they are hurting over it is what counts. Rational arguments exercise niggling good to persuade a person when they are in this country of mind. Instead, offer your empathy and compassion for what they are feeling without making any judgments about whether they should feel that style.

Take Care of Yourself

Dealing with a suicide threat is very stressful. Be sure to treat yourself likewise and seek assistance to process and decompress afterward. Talk to a trusted friend, a therapist, your doctor, a religious leader, or anyone who tin offering support for what y'all've been through and how yous feel most it.

Seeking Emergency Help

If the person has already started a suicide attempt, call for help immediately. If they are still conscious, go what information yous can well-nigh any substances they have ingested, how long ago they took them, how much they took, when they terminal ate, and their full general state of health.

If you are in a situation, such as an online friendship, where you lot know very little about the person, encourage them to telephone call 911 on their own or to call a suicide hotline in their area. This is your best option, considering a local agency, such as 911 or a hotline, may exist able to trace the call and get assist to them.

If they refuse to call, exercise your best to learn whatsoever personal data you can most the person. Don't hesitate to ask them for their address, phone number, and other data to aid acceleration an emergency crew to their dwelling.

A Word From Verywell

Supporting a friend or loved one experiencing suicidal thoughts can be scary and taxing. Do your all-time to provide support and get help. If, in spite of your attempts to help, your loved one yet attempts or completes suicide, don't blame yourself. Remind yourself that you lot did the best yous could with the information y'all had and seek assistance for yourself such as grief counseling or joining suicide survivor back up groups.

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Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our manufactures. Read our editorial process to learn more most how we fact-check and keep our content authentic, reliable, and trustworthy.

1. Mathias CW, Furr RM, Sheftall AH, Colina-Kapturczak N, Crum P, Dougherty DM. What's the damage in asking virtually suicidal ideation?. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2012;42(3):341-51. doi:10.1111/j.1943-278X.2012.0095.x

2. Suicide Prevention. National Institute of Mental Health.

3. Gould MS, Marrocco FA, Kleinman K, et al. Evaluating iatrogenic take chances of youth suicide screening programs: A randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2005;293(13):1635-43. doi:10.1001/jama.293.13.1635

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Source: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-to-do-when-a-friend-is-suicidal-1065472

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