I have friends that have been suicidal, but only a few have really attempted. Those that have attempted did so as a cry for help. Therefore, I always tell my friends that if they ever get close they need to call me and I’ll drive over in an instant. They usually believe me and take it to heart.
The only situation in which I think contacting the authorities/parents is when an attempt is imminent or in progress. If they say “I just swalllowed a bottle of sleeping pills”, you call someone. If they say “I think I might kill myself”, you just call him/her and talk it out. Usually what they need is a friend, not an incarceration or a lecture. I’ve had friends that were suicidal for weeks, and had I told their parents or something it would have only made matters worse.
August’s sentence is exactly right. I say those exact words, because it is absolutely true. Once you hit rock bottom, there is nowhere to go but up.
Also, I have to quote some song lyrics here:
So if you want to burn yourself remember that I LOVE YOU.
So if you want to cut yourself remember that I LOVE YOU.
So if you want to kill yourself remember that I LOVE YOU.
Call me up before your dead, and we can make some plans instead.
My friend’s brother committed suicide on Thursday night. If a person could only see what it would do to their loved ones before going through with it….