Often suicidal teens want someone (an informed friend) who understands and who will listen as they talk—someone who truly listens and doesn’t give solutions or advice!

“You don’t seem to be like your old self.”

“I’m listening if you want to talk.”

“I’m not sure what I can do to help, but I’ll try.”

“I can tell that something is wrong and that you are hurting.”

“I’m your friend and I care about you. I want to help if I can.”

“I don’t want you to take your life.”

“I can’t promise to keep this a secret. We’re friends and I want to help but we need to talk to someone who can help us.”

“I think we need to talk to someone who knows what to do to help you.”

“Can we go talk to (an adult) together?”

Let a suicidal teen know that they are not the only one that’s ever felt like taking their life.

Let them know that other people have similar problems.

In my next Blog I’ll share what some teens have said were their reasons for trying to take their life.

Melanie Hack
Author of Who Killed My Sister, My friend
Read an excerpt now
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