Oof, this is so hard. So hard. I'm sorry your worried for your friend/loved one.
It's pretty hard to give you ideas without knowing more about the nature of their hopelessness ... biochemical? multiple/hard losses? chronic poor health?
Love them. Let them know that you love them. Let them know what a huge loss it would be for you. I've worked with many many suicidal people... most of them say what stops them is knowing the impact it would have on their loved ones. (That or their spiritual beliefs.) They almost never say "I know it'll get better and it just sucks today." They usually say, "It would devastate my mom/husband/daughter, etc. I couldn't do that to them."
Really. It doesn't have to come across as a guilt trip - it can genuinely be letting them know how it would impact you.
no subject
Date: 2011-07-06 02:49 pm (UTC)It's pretty hard to give you ideas without knowing more about the nature of their hopelessness ... biochemical? multiple/hard losses? chronic poor health?
Love them. Let them know that you love them. Let them know what a huge loss it would be for you. I've worked with many many suicidal people... most of them say what stops them is knowing the impact it would have on their loved ones. (That or their spiritual beliefs.) They almost never say "I know it'll get better and it just sucks today." They usually say, "It would devastate my mom/husband/daughter, etc. I couldn't do that to them."
Really. It doesn't have to come across as a guilt trip - it can genuinely be letting them know how it would impact you.
I hope they make it.