If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide. You are not alone.
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Don’t promise confidentiality
Get professional help
Make a plan for life
Refuse to be sworn to secrecy. You may have to seek additional help from law enforcement or professional counselor in order to keep them safe.
Encourage them to get professional help, explain that these feelings are common and help is available, help them find a treatment facility and offer to go with them.
Help them develop a “Plan for Life”, steps that they promise to follow if they should find themselves in another crisis. A plan for life can start with a verbal agreement they make to seek help, or not act on their thoughts before they talk to someone. The next step is reaching out to a professional. Provide them with emergency contact numbers such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK(8255).
Keep reaching out to them
It's not your responsibility to save them but you can continue to reach out and tell them you care about them. (One exception here is if it's an ex trying to manipulate you. You don't want to keep prolonging the relationship once you referred them to get help.)