I need some advice...

[kwagamon]

To be honest, I don't really wanna' talk about this at all, it's just if I don't let it out somewhere I may well go mad. On to the actual topic...

One of my best friends just recently attempted suicide. It failed and he's fine now, but I find it hard to believe that he's completely mentally okay yet. Even before he tried, he was on more meds than I can count for various issues and is probably on even more now. He was heavily into drugs before, too. And now he's getting rid of all his vices except for smoking cigarettes. I'm glad he's getting clean, but I think right now being clear-headed might be the worst possible thing for him because being able to think means he might try again. I just... I just don't know what to do. I feel like I can do something to help him out, I just don't know what. Help me out, Escapists?

 

[Starke]

I'm sorry, without knowing what instigated the suicide attempt I really can't help you.

I can tell you I was on an antibiotic ages ago, that induced suicidal impulses as one of its possible side effects. (And it did have that effect on me.) But, if its a break up or the death of a loved one? Then I don't know. Clean may be better. Without more information, I really can't offer you an educated recommendation.

 

[Offworlder_v1legacy]

If he's not too upset about it talk to him about it, this could make him feel better if he gets things off his chest. And now that he's clean and thinking, like you said, he might have seen the error in his ways and not try again.

 

[Bloodysoldier]

I do not mean to sound cold, well I do a bit. But I'll lay it down simple. This is life, if it is theyre time to go then it is time, there is no if, ands, or buts about it. Remember this the one thing that is always certain and you can count on in this life is death. I've had many close friends commit suicide most of them got what they wanted the rest failed.

p.s. death is apart of life learn to live with it.

Have a nice day my friend.

 

[lithiumvocals]

Shit dude.
Anyway, be with him. Hang out, talk, play some games, and make sure he knows how much he means to you. Tell him life is worth living.


This reminds me of my friend, who almost OD'd on heroin. Scariest time of my life. He was fucking depressed, too. Ugh.

 

[Chancie]

First of all, I know the feeling of knowing a friend's in "trouble." It's scary as heck. My entire Sophomore year of high school, I struggled to pull a friend away from self harm and suicide.

Now, I know guys aren't as all "touchy feely" as girls are, but I'll throw my advice out there.
Be there and listen. Seriously. That's one of the best things you can do, even if it isn't about the suicide or depression or anything like that. Listen to everything he has to say, show you're there for him, and try to do everything you can to pull him away from it. Be careful not to accuse, though, and don't make it sound like you're judging him. That's the fastest way for someone like that to loose their trust and reliance in you. Go into it with an open mind, and prove it to him too.
And make it obvious how much you discourage what he's doing, and how much it bothers you, how much you don't like it, etc. I would hope that it'll reach out to him, because it shows you care. It won't always work, but it did for me. My friend started to feel guilty about it because when she hurt herself, she knew she hurt and upset me too. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to completely stop it, but it was enough for her to gradually slow down and stop.

Otherwise, without knowing much of your friend's story, it's hard to give much more help. But that's the best I can do for now.

 

[Sir Thomas Sean Connery]

I had the same thing happen with a friend after his mother threw him out saying she didn't love him ad his girlfriend (who he was in love with) said he was driving [i/]her[/i] to suicide. To be quite honest, he seemed to just be in a dark spot for that one moment and a few days later, he was back to his normal self. I would give him a little bit of time, like a day or two and then try and hang out with him. I may have the wrong perspective however as I have never known anyone that drugged out. My best advice would be to ask yourself, if it was you who had tried to commit suicide, what would you want your friend to do?

 

[kwagamon]

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate it. As far as the cause, he got suspended from college until January after being there for only 4 days. I'm not going to say why that happened, but I can honestly say the cause was beyond stupid and yet the police actually want to bring him to trial without any evidence beyond three unreliable people's word-of-mouth. That was a few weeks ago and I only just found when I went to hang out with him on Sunday (3 days ago). He says he's fine and he's acting normal but something just feels off to me. I'll make sure he knows even more than he already does that I'm there for him.

Again, thank you for the advice.

 

[johnsom]

Thats a hard one all I really think you can do is try to show him life is worth it.