SYNTHETIC DEMONSTRATION — no real student or patient. Not a medical device.

Urgent & emergency

Your Friend Is Talking About Suicide: How to Help Now

Ask your friend directly if they're thinking about suicide — it won't make things worse. Stay with them, help them stay safe, and connect them to 988 and a trusted adult. You don't have to keep this a secret.

Take it seriously and ask directly

If your friend mentions suicide, believe them and act. A direct, caring question helps: "Are you thinking about suicide?" Asking does not increase risk — it actually opens the door for them to talk and get help 1. Stay calm, let them know you care, and listen more than you talk. You are not expected to fix everything; you are helping them get to people who can.

The steps to follow

Five evidence-informed steps can guide you 1:

1. Ask directly if they are thinking about suicide. 2. Be there — stay with them, in person or on the phone, and really listen. 3. Keep them safe — help put space between them and anything dangerous like pills or weapons. 4. Help them connect to ongoing support: 988, a trusted adult, or their counselor. 5. Follow up — check in afterward so they know you still care.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free, confidential, and available 24/7 by call, text, or chat, and you can use it together or for guidance on what to do next 2.

Tell a trusted adult — this is not a secret to keep

It can feel like a betrayal to tell someone when a friend asked you not to, but safety comes first. Telling a trusted adult — a parent, school counselor, teacher, or coach — is the right thing, even if your friend is upset at first. You are not getting them in trouble; you are getting them help. Suicide is a leading cause of death among teens, which is exactly why reaching an adult matters 3.

Know the warning signs

Treat these as a cue to get help quickly: talking about wanting to die or being a burden, looking for ways to harm themselves, giving away belongings, withdrawing from friends, extreme mood swings, or a sudden increase in alcohol or drug use 4. If your friend has a specific plan or access to a weapon or pills, or you think they are in immediate danger, call 911 or 988 right away.

Take care of yourself too

Helping a friend through this is heavy. After you have connected them to support, talk to a trusted adult about how you are doing, and remember that 988 is also there for you if you feel overwhelmed 2. A counselor or clinician can support both you and your friend; pediatricians and mental-health providers are there to help young people through exactly these situations 3.

Common questions

What if my friend made me promise not to tell anyone?

Keeping them safe is more important than keeping that promise. Tell a trusted adult anyway — you are helping, not betraying them. If there is immediate danger, call 911 or 988 [2].

I'm scared I'll say the wrong thing. What do I do?

You don't need perfect words. Ask directly if they're thinking about suicide, listen, and stay with them — asking does not make things worse, and being there matters most [1].

Can I use 988 even though it's my friend, not me?

Yes. You can call or text 988 for guidance on helping someone else; it is free, confidential, and available 24/7 [2].

If your friend is in danger now

  • —Talking about a specific plan, time, or method to end their life
  • —Having access to a weapon, pills, or another way to harm themselves
  • —Saying goodbye, giving away belongings, or that others are better off without them
  • —Severe agitation, or being unable to stay safe

If your friend is in immediate danger, call 911. For free, confidential 24/7 support, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line).

This article is general guidance, not medical advice or a diagnosis; in an emergency contact 911 or 988 and tell a trusted adult.

References

  1. 1.National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (2024). 5 Action Steps to Help Someone Having Thoughts of Suicide (Ask, Be There, Keep Them Safe, Help Them Connect, Follow Up). National Institute of Mental Health. link ✓Evidence-informed action steps for supporting someone at risk (Ask, Be There, Keep Them Safe, Help Them Connect, Follow Up), including that asking about suicide does not increase risk.
  2. 2.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) (2024). 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. SAMHSA (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). link ✓988 provides free, confidential, 24/7 call/text/chat crisis support.
  3. 3.Shain B; AAP Committee on Adolescence (2016). Suicide and Suicide Attempts in Adolescents. Pediatrics. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-1420 ✓Suicide is a leading cause of death among older adolescents, and providers should help at-risk youth.
  4. 4.National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (2024). Warning Signs of Suicide. National Institute of Mental Health. link ✓Lists behavioral and emotional warning signs of suicide that should prompt help-seeking.

4 sources, numbered by first appearance. General health information, not medical advice — synthetic demonstration content.