Don’t ignore despondent friend

This is pretty good but one of the first things I learned as a Chaplain, was that the choice of words matters a lot more than you think. If you think a friend is in trouble, talk to them but whatever you do, don't put it as if you are offering suicide as an answer to the problem.

Don't say "Have you thought about killing yourself?" That comes out as an option, not something to be taken as a warning sign. From that point on, it would become a thought.

Don’t ignore despondent friend
By MARY JO RAPINI
April 17, 2009, 2:05PM

We’ve all heard news reports about people out of work or losing their homes, killing themselves and sometimes their family, their co-workers or even strangers. How does this happen?

Suicide is the 11th-most common cause of death in the United States, resulting in the death of 31,000 people and inflicting severe injuries on another 425,000 each year. April is the most common month for suicide in the United States.

The profile of someone who turns to suicide is complicated.

Sometimes it is someone we would never have predicted, but more often the person has one of these issues: clinical depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, postpartum depression, alcohol or drug abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder or chronic pain.

Usually when a person is in the midst of one of these disorders, a chemical imbalance prevents him from thinking clearly.

He may convince himself that the world is better off without him, and make that call for others as well. He confuses ending his pain with ending his life.

What can you do if you know someone you love is struggling?

First, don’t ignore it. Raising the issue won’t make someone act on it. In fact, it may have the opposite effect. Once you ask someone if they’re thinking of suicide, you may begin a dialogue so that the person becomes more willing to discuss problems with you.
go here for the rest
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/health/6378853.html