“How do I support a friend who wants to take their life?”
To best support a friend, say something along the lines of:
“I know you are hurting and I am so sorry you feel that way. What can I do to help you and support you?What would be most helpful for you?”
This allows the person to open up in a safe way of their choosing.
“Do you want me to listen? I may not understand completely but I can learn how you feel and find ways to help you.”
Again, this allows the person to have a safe space to feel heard and supported.
For a lot of people who have suicidal ideation, hearing their friends and family say something like the following does not help them feel supported:
“Well, what about me? Do you want me to be sad?”
Nobody who wants to take their life wants to put their loved ones in pain, they want to escape the pain they are feeling.
“Okay, well if you do it, I’m doing it.”
This guilts the person struggling and can make their feelings feel invalid. Don’t threaten suicide yourself just to keep someone else from doing it.
In Case of Emergency
“When do I call 911 vs 988? What information do I need when calling 911?”
- Friend’s full name, address, birthday and phone number
- Friend’s guardians’ names (first and last) and phone number(s)
When to Call 911
If there is an active threat of suicide, such as they have a plan and have reached out to tell you they are following through with it, call 911. Don’t believe that they won’t follow through with their plan, always take suicidal threats seriously!
When to Call 988
988 can be used when there is not an active threat of suicide, but the person you care about is struggling with their mental health and has expressed being suicidal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some examples of an active suicide threat include:
“I am going to kill myself.”
“I am sorry, I can’t go on.”
“Life is too much, I can’t take it anymore. Please don’t blame yourself.”
If you have a gut feeling that something isn’t right and are worried about someone you love, call 911 for a welfare check!
The 988 lifeline connects you to trained counselors who can talk you down from a crisis, and give you resources to places near you that can support you.