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Friend has attempted to commit suicide

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FeralRobot
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19 Jun 2014, 5:41 pm

... And I don't know what I can do to help him. I'm very worried about him.
Some background information: we haven't seen each other in a while, and have stayed in contact via email and Google+. He is bipolar, so I hope that this is just a depressive phase, but I want to know what I can do in the meantime. He is also on the autistic spectrum.
He has just mentioned suicide attempts in an email, and feels that the world is too much and too hard. This is probably partially because he is being bullied for his unusual behaviour and because he is bisexual (I want to violently attack the intolerant f*ckers picking on him, but that would do nothing constructive). I don't know what to do or say to make him feel better about his situation. He is going for counseling, but I am worried that this will be too little too late.
He is someone I care about, and a nice person. He is only 15, has a life ahead of him.


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Fatal-Noogie
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19 Jun 2014, 6:12 pm

That's not my area of expertise, but for starters, you could encourage him to keep the national suicide hotline number in his list of contacts.
1-800-273-TALK(8255) www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
The next time you talk to him, if he's in a reasonable mood, make him promise that if he feels the urge to harm/kill himself,
that he'll call you and/or that hotline number first.
You might also look up local LGBT support groups and meeting times/places and refer him to that.
They would know how to cope with the bullying.

The fact that he's having suicidal thoughts (and that he allegedly attempted it) is a bad sign,
but the fact that he trusts you enough to tell you about it is a good sign.
Many people with suicidal thoughts don't feel they have friends they can confide in.


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cberg
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19 Jun 2014, 8:32 pm

Fatal-Noogie wrote:
That's not my area of expertise, but for starters, you could encourage him to keep the national suicide hotline number in his list of contacts.
1-800-273-TALK(8255) www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
The next time you talk to him, if he's in a reasonable mood, make him promise that if he feels the urge to harm/kill himself,
that he'll call you and/or that hotline number first.
You might also look up local LGBT support groups and meeting times/places and refer him to that.
They would know how to cope with the bullying.

The fact that he's having suicidal thoughts (and that he allegedly attempted it) is a bad sign,
but the fact that he trusts you enough to tell you about it is a good sign.
Many people with suicidal thoughts don't feel they have friends they can confide in.


Still; keep a medkit on hand. Here's hoping none will be needed in your vicinity.


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FireyInspiration
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19 Jun 2014, 11:22 pm

IN addition to what Fatal-Noogie said, just be there for him. Say that he can call or talk to you if he just needs to get something off his chest (often talking about it gets you out of that thinking at least for the short term). Be his shoulder to cry on, make time for him and show him that yourself, and many others are there and would be deeply saddened by his death.