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</ iframe > </noscript> <!-- End Google Tag Manager (noscript) --><div id="header"> <div id="CClogo"><a href="https://www.cookchildrens.org"><span class="srText">Cook Children's</span></a></div> <div id="CCsearch"> <form id="searchform" name="searchform" method="GET" onsubmit="return (this.q.value == '') ? false : true;" action="/CookChildrens/en/parents/"> <input type="hidden" name="search" value="y"/> <input type="hidden" name="getfields" value="description"/> <input type="search" class="search" name="q" id="q" maxlength="256" autocomplete="off" autocorrect="off" placeholder="Search"/> <input type="hidden" name="datasource" value="cookchildrens"> <input type="hidden" name="start" value="0"> <input type="hidden" name="rows" value="10"> <input type="hidden" name="lang" value="english"> <input type="hidden" name="section" value="parents_teens_kids"> <input type="submit" value="" id="searchButton" class="buttonImage"/> </form> </div> </div> <!-- If we have main navigation separated then it will reside here --> <div id="thelou" tabindex="-1"> </div> <div id="mainContentContainer" class="kh-article-page"> <div id="rsSearchBrowse"> <div id="rsBrowse" role="navigation"> </div> <div id="rsSearch"> <div id="rsSectionLabel">teens</div> </div> </div> <div id="khContentHeading" class="ar licH"> <h1>My Friend Is Talking About Suicide. What Should I Do?</h1> </div> <div class="clearBox"> </div> <div id="khcontent"> <div id="xp1"> </div><br clear="all" style="width: 0; height: 0; line-height: 0; font-size: 0;"><div id="khcontent_article" lang="en-us"> <div id="NavigatePage1"> <div id="whichRead_1"><span class="ISI_MESSAGE"><!-- The following article is brought to you by CookChildrens. --></span><div class="rs_skip rs_skip_en rsbtn_kidshealth rs_preserve" id="readspeaker_button1"><script> var theRSURL = (escape(document.location.href)); var rsAudioTitle = document.title.replace(/ |\'|\?/g,"_"); var whichReadPage = 1; var doesItGotFlash = ''; makeTheRSLinkEN(); var readSpeakerDownloadLink = "//app-na.readspeaker.com/cgi-bin/rsent?customerid=5202&lang=en_us&voice=Kate&speed=100&readid=khcontent_article&url="+theRSURL+"&audiofilename=KidsHealth_"+rsAudioTitle+""; </script></div> <!--googleoff:all--> <div id="languagePairLink" class="rs_skip"><a href="/CookChildrens/es/teens/talking-about-suicide.html"><span class="pairedURLHead" lang="es">en español<img src="/images/n00/icons/langPairArrow.svg" alt=""></span><span class="pairedURLBody" lang="es">Mi amigo está hablando sobre el suicidio. ¿Qué debería hacer?</span></a></div> <!--googleon:all--><div class="rte-image"><!--<sly data-sly-test.buttonBorder="khb-noborder"></sly> --><h3>Warning Signs of Suicide</h3><p>Everyone feels sad, <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/depression.html">depressed</a>, stressed, or angry sometimes — especially when dealing with the pressures of school, friends, and family. But some people may feel sadness or hopelessness that won't go away, along with thoughts of suicide.</p><p>You may have heard that people who talk about suicide won't actually go through with it. That's not true. People who talk about suicide may be likely to try it.</p><p>Immediate warning signs that someone may be thinking of suicide include:</p><ul><li>talking about suicide or death in general</li><li>looking online for ways to kill oneself or buying items to use in a suicide attempt</li><li>talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live</li><li>engaging in self-destructive behavior (drinking a lot of <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/alcohol.html">alcohol</a>, taking <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/know-about-drugs.html">drugs</a>, driving too fast, or <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/cutting.html">cutting</a>, for example)</li><li>visiting or calling people to say goodbye</li><li>giving away possessions</li></ul><h3>What Can I Do?</h3><h4>Ask</h4><p>If you have a friend who's talking about <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/suicide.html">suicide</a> or showing other warning signs, don't wait to see if they start to feel better. Talk about it. Ask them directly if they're having thoughts of suicide. Having someone care enough to ask these questions can help save your friend's life.</p><p>Some people (both teens and adults) are reluctant to ask teens if they've been thinking about suicide or hurting themselves. They might worry that, by asking, they're planting the idea of suicide. Research has proven this to be 100% untrue. If you're worried — ask.</p><p>Asking someone if they're having thoughts about suicide can be hard. It can help to let your friend know why you're asking. For instance, you might say, "I've noticed that you've been talking a lot about wanting to be dead. Have you been having thoughts about trying to kill yourself?" Be prepared for their answer and be ready to talk to a trusted adult at home or at school to get the help needed.</p><h4>Tell</h4><p>If your friend asks you to keep these thoughts a secret, let them know you care about them and need to share this with a trusted adult. It may feel like you're betraying your friend, but you should always tell a trusted adult.</p><p>Share your concerns with an adult as soon as possible. You also can turn to these resources for 24/7 help:</p><ul class="kh_longline_list"><li><strong>988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:</strong> 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text or call <strong>988</strong>. You also can contact them through <a target="_blank" href="https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/">their website</a>.</li><li><strong>Trevor Lifeline for LGBTQ community:</strong> 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678. You can also contact them through <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thetrevorproject.org/">their website</a>.</li><li><strong><a target="_blank" href="https://www.suicideispreventable.org/prevention-kit.php">Know the Signs: Suicide Prevention Resources</a></strong></li></ul><p>The important thing is to notify a responsible adult. It may be tempting to try to help your friend on your own, but it's always safest to get help.</p></div> <div id="reviewerBox"> <div id="reviewedBy">Medically reviewed by: Christina M. Cammarata, PhD</div> <div id="reviewedDate">Date reviewed: April 2023</div> </div><span class="ISI_MESSAGE"><!--Thank you for listening to this KidsHealth audio cast. The information you heard, is for educational purposes only. If you need medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment, consult your doctor. This audio cast is Copyrighted by KidsHealth. All rights are reserved.--></span></div> </div> </div> </div> <!--googleoff:all--> <div id="relatedBoxParents" class="t1 "> <div id="navTabs"> <ul id="navTabsPKT" role="tablist" aria-labelledby="moreOnThisTopicHeader"> <li role="presentation" class="current" id="PKTtabTeens"><button class="PKTJSTButton" role="tab" id="teens_tab" aria-controls="relatedArticlesListTeens" aria-selected="true" tabindex="0"><span>for Teens</span></button></li> </ul> </div> <div id="mainBar"> </div> <div id="mrLinks"> <h2 id="moreOnThisTopicHeader">MORE ON THIS TOPIC</h2> <ul id="relatedArticlesListTeens" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="teens_tab"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/severe-depression.html">Am I Depressed?</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/suicide.html">Suicide</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/why-depressed.html">Why Do People Get Depressed?</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/runaway.html">My Friend Is Talking About Running Away: What Should I Do?</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/school-counselors.html">School Counselors</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/cutting.html">Cutting & Self-Injury</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/therapist.html">Going to a Therapist</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/someone-died.html">Grief</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/stop-suicide.html">I'm Thinking of Suicide. How Can I Get Help?</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/center/stress-center.html">Stress & Coping (Topic Center)</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="boxBreaker"> </div> <div id="zeroTester"> </div> <div id="relatedButtonsHolder"> <div id="relatedButtonsBoth"> <ul> <li id="relatedPrinterButton"><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/talking-about-suicide.html?view=ptr" rel="nofollow" onclick="printWindow(this.href); return false;" title="This link will open in a new window.">Print<span class="newWindowIcon_leftSpace"> </span></a></li> <li id="relatedEmailFriendButton"><a rel="nofollow" href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/talking-about-suicide.html?view=emailto" target="_blank" title="This link will open in a new window.">Send to a Friend<span class="newWindowIcon_leftSpace"> </span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div><br clear="all"></div><br clear="all"><script>window.onload=setVars('');PKTChoose(0,0,10,0);</script><div id="kh_lic_footer"> <nav aria-label="Content info"> <ul id="kh_lic_footer_links"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/editorial-policy-licensee.html">Editorial Policy</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/policy-licensees.html">KidsHealth Privacy Policy & Terms of Use</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/copyright.html">Copyright</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div id="kh_lic_footer_legalease"> <p><img lang="en" alt="A TeensHealth Education Partner" src="/images/n00/logos/THeduPartner3.svg"> Note: All information is for educational purposes only. 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