The people who talk about suicide don't do it."

Studies have found that more than 75% of all completed suicides did things in the few weeks or months prior to their deaths to indicate to others that they were in deep despair.

Anyone expressing suicidal feelings needs immediate attention. Anyone who tries to kill himself has got to be crazy. Perhaps 10% of all suicidal people are psychotic or have delusional beliefs about reality. Most suicidal people suffer from the recognized mental illness of depression; but many depressed people adequately manage their daily affairs. The absence of "craziness" does not mean the absence of suicide risk.

Remember that suicidal behavior is a cry for help. If someone is going to kill himself, nothing can stop him. The fact that a person is still alive is sufficient proof that part of him wants to remain alive. The suicidal person is ambivalent - part of him wants to live and part of him wants not so much death as he wants the pain to end. It is the part that wants to live that tells another "I feel suicidal." If a suicidal person turns to you it is likely that he believes that you are more caring, more informed about coping with misfortune, and more willing to protect his confidentiality. No matter how negative the manner and content of his talk, he is doing a positive thing and has a positive view of you.
 
So you should be willing to give and get help sooner rather than later. Suicide prevention is not a last minute activity. Unfortunately, suicidal people are afraid that trying to get help may bring them more pain: being told they are stupid, foolish, sinful, or manipulative; rejection; punishment; suspension from school; written records of their condition; or involuntary commitment. You need to do everything you can to reduce pain, rather than increase or prolong it. Constructively involving yourself on the side of life as early as possible will reduce the risk of suicide.

Give the person every opportunity to unburden his troubles and ventilate his feelings. You don't need to say much and there are no magic words. If you are concerned, your voice and manner will show it. Give him relief from being alone with his pain; let him know you are glad he turned to you. At times everyone feels sad, hurt, or hopeless. You know what that's like; share your feelings. Let the child know he or she is not alone. Avoid arguments and advice giving. If the child's words or actions scare you, tell him or her. If you're worried or don't know what to do, say so.

Talking about suicide may give someone the idea. People already have the idea; suicide is constantly in the media. If you ask a despairing person this question you are doing a good thing for them: you are showing him that you care about him, that you take him seriously, and that you are willing to let him share his pain with you. You are giving him further opportunity to discharge pent up and painful feelings. If the person is having thoughts of suicide, find out how far along his ideation has progressed.

If a person is acutely suicidal, do not leave him alone. If the means are present, try to get rid of them. Detoxify the school or home. Persistence and patience may be needed to seek, engage and continue with as many options as possible. In any referral situation, let the person know you care and want to maintain contact.

It is the part of the person that is afraid of more pain that says "Don't tell anyone." It is the part that wants to stay alive that tells you about it. Respond to that part of the person and persistently seek out a mature and compassionate person with whom you can review the situation. Distributing the anxieties and responsibilities of suicide prevention makes it easier and much more effective.

We need to be as open and as attentive as possible to those that are in difficulties. The most effective suicide prevention technique we can exercise is to maintain open lines of communication with our family, friends and neighbour. Sometimes people hide their problems, not wanting to burden the people they love. It is extremely important to assure that they can share their troubles, and gain support in the process. We should be able to talk about suicide within our community, and to educate ourselves by attending community, parent-teacher or parent-counselor education sessions and from nearby libraries or the internet. Once trained, people can help to staff a crisis hotline in their community. Parents also need to be involved in the counseling process if a teen has suicidal tendencies.

These activities may both alleviate peoples’ fears of the unknown and assure people that we are care. It is imperative for crisis interventions to be well planned and evaluated; otherwise, not only may they not help survivors, but they may potentially exacerbate problems through the induction of imitation. This includes educating media professionals about contagion, in order to yield stories that minimize them, and encouraging the media's positive role in educating the public about risks for suicide and shaping attitudes about suicide.

Suicide attempts and completed suicides among adolescents are problems of increasing significance. School staff, parents, and health professionals should be sensitized about the risk factors and warning signs of suicide, and about the ways to deal with suicidal adolescents.