Well, I do research suicide so much because I had to battle it within myself. I learned pretty quickly that no one cares if you're suicidal most of the time. Even people I know who have suicidal thoughts think this way. "If you're really going to do it you don't tell anyone, you just do it." It's sickening. Any type of 'reaching out' is considered as 'seeking attention.'

What I've learned more recently from my own experiences, and now knowing that I had what must have been that major psychotic episode, I have come to see that suicidal thoughts and psychotic delusions seem to have something in common: you lose your ability to reality check. The suicidal thoughts become your reality. So talking someone down is no easy task. But, unlike psychosis which can last a long time, suicidal thoughts are like flashes in comparison... once the episode ends they fade back. (which is why I often say suicidal thinking is like the lightning in the storm.)

The only time I had someone help me when I was suicidal was a teacher in high school. I don't remember what was said to me, but it eased it enough that I went home and was okay.

For my teenage self, what would have been the thing to hear? I think "I hear you, and I can see you're in a lot of pain, and I want to help you. I love you, and you're going to be okay because we're going to get through this together." Something like that. "I will help you." Or maybe, "You'll be safe, because I will take care of you, and you don't have to die." And probably, "I want you here, because you're important to me." That would have been good, I think. Stuff like that. Because I think one thing for me when I am suicidal is I feel like there is no love in this world for me, and no one would care if I were dead, and people would be better off without me. And, Blue, these are powerful things to say but the most powerful thing is following through, which I already know you will do for your son.

The Key to fighting the suicide demon is truth, because everything in the mix of suicidal thoughts are lies. Lies that you're worthless, lies that no one loves or wants you, lies that it will never get better, lies that break your soul.