How do I start a conversation with someone I’m worried about?

Find a time and place where you can both feel safe to talk. Tell your friend that you genuinely care about them. Acknowledge what you’ve observed recently, such as, “You seem so unhappy lately.” Allow time for them to open up. Don’t dismiss what they say or argue with how they feel. When the time seems right, ask them directly if they are considering suicide by saying something such as, “Are you thinking about taking your life?” Reassure them that you care about them, that they are valued, and that God loves and values them regardless of their current struggles. Help them see that “we are infinitely more than our limitations or our afflictions” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Like a Broken Vessel,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 42).

Church and Community Resources

(Some of the resources listed below are not created, maintained, or controlled by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While these materials are intended to serve as additional resources, the Church does not endorse any content that is not in keeping with its doctrines and teachings.)

• “God Knows You,” President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Youth Videos, LDS.org
• “7 Things Attempt Survivors Wish Their Families and Friends Knew,” Lifeline for Attempt Survivors
• “Helping a Suicidal Friend or Relative,” Befrienders Worldwide
• “Help Someone Else,” National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• “Suicide Prevention: How to Help Someone Who Is Suicidal and Save a Life,” HelpGuide.org