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Suicide.pkKnowing how to help someone you love is hard, and there is no perfect script. This is what actually helps.
Start simply: "I've noticed you haven't seemed yourself lately — I care about you, and I'm here." Listen more than you talk. You don't need to fix anything in the first conversation — being taken seriously is often the most important part.
Yes. This is one of the clearest, best-evidenced findings in suicide prevention (WHO): asking someone directly — "are you thinking about suicide?" — does not plant the idea or increase their risk. Vague or indirect questions ("you're not thinking of doing something silly, are you?") often make someone feel judged and less likely to open up. A direct, calm question can be the thing that makes them feel truly understood.
Avoid "you have so much to live for", "think of your family", or "that's a permanent solution to a temporary problem" — well-meant, but they can land as pressure or guilt rather than support. Avoid minimising ("everyone feels like that sometimes") or reacting with shock or panic, which can make someone shut down. You don't need the perfect words — steady, non-judgmental presence matters more.
If they have a specific plan, the means to act on it, or say they intend to act imminently — call emergency services (🇵🇰 1122) or take them to the nearest emergency department right away. Do not leave them alone while you wait for help to arrive.
No. If you believe someone is at risk right now, stay with them, or make sure another trusted person can, until professional help is in place. If you must leave, hand them off directly to someone else rather than leaving them by themselves.
Where you safely can, help create distance between them and anything that could be used to harm themselves — medication, sharp objects, firearms. You don't need to search the house; gentle, practical steps together are usually enough, and asking "can we put this somewhere else for now?" is often better received than acting alone.
If someone you care about has attempted, the road right after matters — for them and for you. We've written a separate, gentler page for exactly this: what happens next →