Threatening suicide is something a lot of people do to get attention, it's true. It's also something that many people threaten to do to manipulate someone else into giving in to their demands. It's something someone may threaten to do to convince someone not to leave them and it can be something someone threatens to do when they are angry. While all of this is true, it is also true that you should take every threat seriously. Here is information on what you should do when someone makes a suicide threat and other information you should know.

Why Acting on All Threats Is Important

As stated above, the reasons why someone may make suicide threats can include everything from wanting attention to trying to maintain control over someone. However, even people who have threatened to commit suicide for any of the above reasons can end up making a real threat at any time. This means you never know when they are serious threats or when they aren't. This is why you need to take each and every threat seriously. While this can be tiring and frustrating, it is worth it to act on every threat, so you don't find out which one was real when it's too late and tragic.

How to Respond to Threats of Suicide If You Are with the Person

If you are with the person, you want to try to calm them down and deal with the immediate emotions they are having. Don't say too much because you don't want to accidentally make things worse since you aren't a trained psychologist. Let them know you care and don't be afraid to lie at that moment if telling the truth would make things worse.

You want to deal with that immediate threat by defusing the situation. For example, if you have just broken up with your partner and now they are threatening suicide, don't keep explaining why you can't be with them. Instead, tell them the two of you may be able to repair the relationship as long as they stay around to do so.

After the situation is diffused, you can find a way to break things off with them later in a way that won't set them off again. This is where getting advice from a professional will prove to be important. As soon as you have dealt with the immediate threat, you want to call someone to have the person looked at professionally. This can mean a call to the local emergency authorities or a drive to the nearest hospital.

How to Respond If You Are Not with the Person

If you aren't with the person who is threatening suicide, then you want to keep them talking. Find out all the information you can with regards to where they are, as well as how they are planning to commit suicide.

Call the authorities in the area nearest to them and give them all of the information on how they can find the person making the threats, as well as the other information you were able to get. You should also make contact with anyone else who knows them that is close by and can go to them if it is safe for them to do so.

Continue talking to the person threatening suicide until you know that help has arrived. It can be helpful to also give the person something to look forward to. For example, let them know you plan to come to visit them or remind them of the upcoming concert the two of you will be going to and tell them how much you have been looking forward to it. Things like this can help shift their way of thinking.

Suicide is a serious matter. To learn more about suicide prevention, contact local counseling services.