My Friend is Pondering Suicide...

[Rhodmhire]

Wow... I hope everything turns out alright.

Thanks.

[Snafturi]

That is a life threatening medical emergency and you need to get him help as quickly as you can. Tell his parents, the school (if he's still in school), anyone who will listen. This isn't something to fuck around with. It doesn't matter if you think it's an attention thing or not. You aren't a medical professional and cannot evaluate how serious he is. Watch "The Bridge" if you want to see all the different ways people act before they kill themselves.

[Epicnopolis]

Unfortunately, I don't really know how to help; all I can tell you is that quoting religious statements will NOT help.

Yes, very true. "Getting gay with god" (please don't ask) won't help at all.

[Triniteras2]

Give him this instead.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BviZlUspL6Y

[Epicnopolis]

Oh and now to be serious, because after reading I realized you aren't some religious wacko.

Any who, tell his parents. I'll tell you right now, I have had suicidal thoughts before and it ain't fun. Make sure they know, but also make sure they go about it in an...er..."appropriate" way.

[Lathuria]

I really, really am serious when I say this: Buy some weed, sit him down, smoke said weed, watch Something about a couple of friends that have whacky pothead adventures, and keep girls from the convo. Keep his mind off of suicide. If he keeps on, tell someone. ANYONE. You dont want his blood on your hands. Believe me.

[Epicnopolis]

I really, really am serious when I say this: Buy some weed, sit him down, smoke said weed, watch Something about a couple of friends that have whacky pothead adventures, and keep girls from the convo. Keep his mind off of suicide. If he keeps on, tell someone. ANYONE. You dont want his blood on your hands. Believe me.

I'd say get him laid. But seeing as we are both underage that would be creepy coming from me. And not good from him.

[Lathuria]

Give him this instead.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BviZlUspL6Y

That blew my fucking mind. What in the HELL is that? It was so cool! I wish it wasnt banned! I would love to get stoned and watch that!

[Tubbsalot]

Well for christ's sake don't tell his parents. What the hell do you think is going to happen if they find out he's suicidal? They'll have a group hug and take him to Disneyland and tell him everything will be just fine? They're going to treat him like he's totally insane. You're trying to make him less depressed. That will not help. Do not do that.

Convince him to see a professional, but failing that (he will probably refuse), just coach him through it until he gets over her. If he doesn't get over her, prevent him from ever seeing or talking to her, and then he'll get over her. If he still doesn't, then he has a serious problem and genuinely needs to see a shrink. The most important thing is that suicidal feelings are difficult to act on, so if someone is coherently imploring that they keep going one step at a time, the sufferer is probably not going to try anything.

[Snafturi]

Give him this instead.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BviZlUspL6Y

That blew my fucking mind. What in the HELL is that? It was so cool! I wish it wasnt banned! I would love to get stoned and watch that!

If you want to watch the full movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV2xURtTqgY That's part 1, the rest are on the side bar.

[Snafturi]

Well for christ's sake don't tell his parents. What the hell do you think is going to happen if they find out he's suicidal? They'll have a group hug and take him to Disneyland and tell him everything will be just fine? They're going to treat him like he's totally insane. You're trying to make him less depressed. That will not help. Do not do that.

Convince him to see a professional, but failing that (he will probably refuse), just coach him through it until he gets over her. If he doesn't get over her, prevent him from ever seeing or talking to her, and then he'll get over her. If he still doesn't, then he has a serious problem and genuinely needs to see a shrink. The most important thing is that suicidal feelings are difficult to act on, so if someone is coherently imploring that they keep going one step at a time, the sufferer is probably not going to try anything.

Or they could take it seriously and get him the help he needs. Parents aren't the complete idiots that teens think they are, and yes they do know more than teenagers do. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among the 13-24 year old age group, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teenage_suicide It's not something to take a chance on.

[Kantria]

That is a life threatening medical emergency and you need to get him help as quickly as you can. Tell his parents, the school (if he's still in school), anyone who will listen. This isn't something to fuck around with. It doesn't matter if you think it's an attention thing or not. You aren't a medical professional and cannot evaluate how serious he is. Watch "The Bridge" if you want to see all the different ways people act before they kill themselves.

You're right that it's life-threatening. Getting professional help for this young person ASAP is the most important thing the OP can do. Being a good friend helps—it really does—but it's vital that someone who's both emotionally and mentally prepared to undertake the burden of addressing his emotional problems is brought into the situation immediately.

Again, just because he hasn't decided he truly wants to do it doesn't mean he never will. I've had suicidal thoughts myself and I've discussed them with a therapist, but I've never been to the point where I formulated a plan, let alone made preparations to execute it. Suicidal thinking can lead to suicide, but it doesn't always. The lack of an actual suicide attempt, however, is not a good enough reason to conclude that he isn't serious about it.

I'm repeating myself, but I just wanted to clarify my advice: the most important thing YOU can do by yourself is to be there, but you should NOT attempt to fix his problems by yourself. Offer support, not solutions. At this point, he's unlikely to go along with them anyway. I'm speaking from my own experience. I know everyone is different, though, and that's what makes professional intervention so important.

As for his parents, well, sometimes parents can surprise you. I think it's worth trying to talk to them.

[Tubbsalot]

Or they could take it seriously and get him the help he needs. Parents aren't the complete idiots that teens think they are, and yes they do know more than teenagers do.

Older people know more shocker, news at nine. It's still very difficult for most people to treat someone the same way if they learn that the person is suicidal. I understand that it would be very useful to have supportive parents on his side, but from what's been said, they sure don't sound like the type for that. Even assuming that he wants everyone discussing him in the first place.

[Snafturi]

Or they could take it seriously and get him the help he needs. Parents aren't the complete idiots that teens think they are, and yes they do know more than teenagers do.

Older people know more shocker, news at nine. It's still very difficult for most people to treat someone the same way if they learn that the person is suicidal. I understand that it would be very useful to have supportive parents on his side, but from what's been said, they sure don't sound like the type for that. Even assuming that he wants everyone discussing him in the first place.

It doesn't matter what he wants. This is a life threatening emergency and he needs help whether he wants it or not. His parents will be able to leverage him into treatment, school staff can do the same. This isn't something the OP can handle on his own and he needs to do everything in his power to get his friend into the hands of someone who can help him.

[Tubbsalot]

It doesn't matter what he wants. This is a life threatening emergency and he needs help whether he wants it or not. His parents will be able to leverage him into treatment, school staff can do the same. This isn't something the OP can handle on his own and he needs to do everything in his power to get his friend into the hands of someone who can help him.

Honestly, it's probably not as life-threatening as you think. Uh, unless he has access to a gun, in which case it's probably even more serious.

In any case, I agree that he should get help, which is why I recommended getting him to a professional, who will (or at least should) keep things relatively private. If that professional deems serious intervention necessary, then who am I to argue, but talking to his parents about it may cause more harm than good (not to mention that they'll then withdraw from Rhodmhire, which would remove one of probably very few remaining supports).

[Snafturi]

It doesn't matter what he wants. This is a life threatening emergency and he needs help whether he wants it or not. His parents will be able to leverage him into treatment, school staff can do the same. This isn't something the OP can handle on his own and he needs to do everything in his power to get his friend into the hands of someone who can help him.

Honestly, it's probably not as life-threatening as you think. Uh, unless he has access to a gun, in which case it's probably even more serious.

In any case, I agree that he should get help, which is why I recommended getting him to a professional, who will (or at least should) keep things relatively private. If that professional deems serious intervention necessary, then who am I to argue, but talking to his parents about it may cause more harm than good (not to mention that they'll then withdraw from Rhodmhire, which would remove one of probably very few remaining supports).

Uh, third leading cause of death among people 15-24. Uh, there's dozens of ways to kill yourself (and as an aside, you are a complete asshole if you blow your brains out). Uh, this isn't the kind of thing to keep private, people in the medical field with years and years of training say that. Uh, teen males are more likely to attempt and more likely to be successful when they start talking about it.

Of course it would be good to get him to a professional, but they won't keep it private. They are mandatory reporters.

[DaWoad]

sooooo not the place for this . . .talk to a proffesional and/or his rents and do it ASAP. he may not be happy with you for a little while but, on the other hand, he'll still be alive. Good luck with it.

[Yootopia]

For about a month or so now, my good friend Gregory has been talking about suicide.

Tell him to jump off a bridge. If he's been "thinking about it for a month", he won't do it.

[Kim Jong-ilia]

For about a month or so now, my good friend Gregory has been talking about suicide.

Tell him to jump off a bridge. If he's been "thinking about it for a month", he won't do it.

I think tempting someone to commit suicide is a really bad idea.

[DaWoad]

For about a month or so now, my good friend Gregory has been talking about suicide.

Tell him to jump off a bridge. If he's been "thinking about it for a month", he won't do it.

I think tempting someone to commit suicide is a really bad idea.

agreed

[Yootopia]

For about a month or so now, my good friend Gregory has been talking about suicide.

Tell him to jump off a bridge. If he's been "thinking about it for a month", he won't do it.

I think tempting someone to commit suicide is a really bad idea.

I think putting up with whiny hormonal teenagers is boring.

"BOOHOO SOME LASSIE LEFT ME WAAAA AM GOING TO KILL MYSELF "

Wrong response = 8 hours of comforting them
Correct response = "Fucking jump then", and then going to the pub with them when they don't. Tada.

[Snafturi]

Tell him to jump off a bridge. If he's been "thinking about it for a month", he won't do it.

I think tempting someone to commit suicide is a really bad idea.

I think putting up with whiny hormonal teenagers is boring.

"BOOHOO SOME LASSIE LEFT ME WAAAA AM GOING TO KILL MYSELF "

Wrong response = 8 hours of comforting them
Correct response = "Fucking jump then", and then going to the pub with them when they don't. Tada.

Actually, both are wrong responses.

[Tubbsalot]

Uh, third leading cause of death among people 15-24. Uh, there's dozens of ways to kill yourself (and as an aside, you are a complete asshole if you blow your brains out). Uh, this isn't the kind of thing to keep private, people in the medical field with years and years of training say that. Uh, teen males are more likely to attempt and more likely to be successful when they start talking about it.

I appreciate the subtle trolling there. Very nice.

"Third leading cause of death" doesn't actually translate into "serious risk of death". The UK, if I remember correctly, has a higher rate of suicide than the US, and suicide over there peaked at 16 people in every 100,000, about two decades ago. That's 0.016%. That's barely even clinging to existence.

Did you know most males who attempt suicide do it with a gun? That's because it's fast, painless and almost certain to kill you. If he does want to keep this private then he certainly won't work with unreliable means like pills. But of course, that's pretty much irrelevant, because...

...once again, I haven't recommended keeping this totally private, which you may notice if you start reading my posts at some point. I said to get him to one of those professionals you just quoted, and allow them to decide with the knowledge they gather whether or not to speak to his parents about it. I'm not sure what your hang-up is with not just blurting out the situation to his parents.

[Heinleinites]

Uh, there's dozens of ways to kill yourself (and as an aside, you are a complete asshole if you blow your brains out).

It is a bit inconsiderate. Mostly because it leaves a hell of a mess(bits of skull and brain matter and blood everywhere)and you're not going to be around to clean it up are you? So in addition to the normal grief they're feeling, your family has to deal with cleaning up the bits of your head that you carelessly scattered around.

If you're going to kill yourself in a way that's going to leave a mess, at least do it in a public space, where the city will have to clean it up.

[Yootopia]

I think tempting someone to commit suicide is a really bad idea.

I think putting up with whiny hormonal teenagers is boring.

"BOOHOO SOME LASSIE LEFT ME WAAAA AM GOING TO KILL MYSELF "

Wrong response = 8 hours of comforting them
Correct response = "Fucking jump then", and then going to the pub with them when they don't. Tada.

Actually, both are wrong responses.

The guy's just bummed out because a girl left him and wants people to love and pay attention to him like she did. Just take him to the pub, pick up some girl there, say yer goodbyes and then watch as, lo and behold, he cheers up after getting fucked again. Tada.