Helping Friends/Loved Ones Who Are Suicidal Or In Abusive Situations / Question
Published: July 2, 2003
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I have a friend who has cut herself 3 times now to a very severe extent and has overdosed on pills and has wrote a suicide letter but was stopped in her tracks she has no clue what she is doing, how do I get her to stop causing me to be depressed and get help?
Signed: Help For Suicidal Friend
Dear Help For Suicidal Friend,
TeenHealthFX understands that you are feeling overwhelmed by your friend's problems. Your friend needs to get professional help as soon as possible. It is great that you are concerned about your friend, but you need to take care of your own needs.
We recommend that you tell someone - so your friend can get help and you can feel better. A good place to start would be with your parents. With the support of your parents you can talk with your friend's parents or a counselor at school. Your friend may feel like it is a betrayal but she needs to understand that because you are her friend, it was difficult for you to stand by knowing she was in pain. Also let her know how devastated you would be if she had harmed herself and you had not been allowed to help.
If your friend gets the proper help she needs then her mood and outlook on life will improve. Once she is in a better place she will see your actions were motivated out of concern and come to appreciate how good a friend you are.
If your friend is seriously considering suicide or becomes afraid of her impulses then she needs to seek help immediately. She can call 9-1-1 or go to your nearest hospital emergency room. In northern New Jersey she can also call the crisis hotline from Morristown Memorial hospital at 973-540-0100. Outside this area call the Suicide & Crisis Hotline, 1-800-999-9999, 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
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