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The hardest thing about spotting a suicidal friend is not detecting minor symptoms, but in learning to take someone telling you "I wish I was dead" seriously.

Unfortunately, in todays society, a great many people are very unhappy. Many of us say "God, I'm going to kill myself!" without really meaning it. Many people say "I'm so depressed", when all they mean is they are very unhappy.

To take action to kill yourself is a very difficult thing. You must be so done, with pain or loss or hopelessness, that you can overcome the body's drive to continue living at all costs.

A suicidal friend will often announce their intentions quite plainly, but such direct statements are often overlooked or ignored. They may give away posessions, clothes, and prized goods. They may announce that they are leaving on a trip. They may become very withdrawn and irritable, and tell you to 'stay our of their business'. They may get angry, drop out of college, risk all their money on one venture, end a relationship... anything that might suggest they are tying up the loose ends.

Some suicides are spontaneous, angry gestures that do not have any preceding signs. In these cases, someone may have bottled up and 'made a show' for so long that they finally snap. All you can hope is that someone is around at the time.

Suicide may be preceded by symptoms of unipolar depression, or bipolar disorder - the friend may seem unnaturally happy and manic, extremely productive, happy or even euphoric just days or weeks before they attempt suicide. Excess energy is often leading up to a crash or burn-out.

If you believe a friend is suicidal, it may be difficult to know what to do. Call a suicide hotline (samartians: 08457 90 90 90 in the UK, or the counselling centre: 888-2620 in the US). Get a professional involved. However sincere your intentions are, and how commited you are to helping,

Learn more about this author, Suzanne Fleming.
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