Dear Dahlia,

It can feel like an overwhelming responsibility when a friend confides in you that they’re considering suicide. The first thing to remember is that suicidal talk should always be taken seriously. As a friend your goal should be to make sure that the person gets professional help immediately, whether they want help or not. That is often easier said than done. The major challenge for most people is trying to get the person help, without losing their trust. The fact that your friend confided in you is an indication that they are looking for help. While you certainly want to help and support your friend, keep in mind that you are not in a position to either talk them out of it or be their therapist.

The best thing that you can do is to make sure that they talk to a professional. If your friend is resistant to the idea, you can offer to go with them to speak to a trusted adult (parent, teacher, guidance counselor, principal, clergy, etc.). In the event that your friend refuses to speak to someone, it is important that you do. It’s much better to have an angry friend than no friend at all.