Saturday, February 11, 2006
Suicidal Friend
Dear Guidance Guy,
One of my friends who I just met this year has always been a kind of "dark" person.What I mean by this is that she is always talking about how her life sucks and thatno one understands her. She also loves to talk about death. Lately though she hasbeen wearing a lot of black and been talking about her own death and how she'slooking forward to it. She has listed to me several ideas on how she is going tomake her "wildest dreams come true" by poisoning herself and has asked me if I knewof any good poisons that she could drink in order to kill herself. She even likes tomake up her will in her free time. I don't think that she is serious, but my momsays I need to go tell a counselor or someone and report this.
What do you think?
Laura
*****
Dear Laura,
Your friend is in a great deal of danger. You just listed all of the warning signs of someone who will attempt suicide. She has changed her appearance, chosen a method, talks about it frequently and has made preparations. All of these behaviors are clear signals that she is serious.
It is urgent you report this right away to a school counselor or principal. Give the same details you just gave to me. Don't wait! This could be the difference between life and death.
Your friend is asking for help, even though it may not seem like it. Now is the time for you to be the best friend possible and do what's best for her.
And for everyone else reading this letter who knows someone with similar kinds of behavior, please don't keep it to yourself. People who talk about killing themselves - especially when they are specific about when and how they'll do it - are serious. They need help. Even if they ask you not to tell anyone else, you must let a responsible adult know what's happening. They may be angry at the beginning, but they'll thank you for it later.
All The Best,
The Guidance Guy
One of my friends who I just met this year has always been a kind of "dark" person.What I mean by this is that she is always talking about how her life sucks and thatno one understands her. She also loves to talk about death. Lately though she hasbeen wearing a lot of black and been talking about her own death and how she'slooking forward to it. She has listed to me several ideas on how she is going tomake her "wildest dreams come true" by poisoning herself and has asked me if I knewof any good poisons that she could drink in order to kill herself. She even likes tomake up her will in her free time. I don't think that she is serious, but my momsays I need to go tell a counselor or someone and report this.
What do you think?
Laura
*****
Dear Laura,
Your friend is in a great deal of danger. You just listed all of the warning signs of someone who will attempt suicide. She has changed her appearance, chosen a method, talks about it frequently and has made preparations. All of these behaviors are clear signals that she is serious.
It is urgent you report this right away to a school counselor or principal. Give the same details you just gave to me. Don't wait! This could be the difference between life and death.
Your friend is asking for help, even though it may not seem like it. Now is the time for you to be the best friend possible and do what's best for her.
And for everyone else reading this letter who knows someone with similar kinds of behavior, please don't keep it to yourself. People who talk about killing themselves - especially when they are specific about when and how they'll do it - are serious. They need help. Even if they ask you not to tell anyone else, you must let a responsible adult know what's happening. They may be angry at the beginning, but they'll thank you for it later.
All The Best,
The Guidance Guy
