Ok assessing for suicidality and helping a suicidal person- I'm a psych major, and this is the information a professor/clinical psychologist gave us in class.

Evaluating Suicide Risk:
1. Direct warning: most useful predictor of suicidality. Do not dismiss a direct warning, EVER!
2.Plan. The more specific and detailed, the greater the risk.
3. Past attempts. 80% of people who die of suicide have a history of past attempts.
4. Depression feelings, esp HOPELESSNESS
5. Indirect statements or signs.

Ways to Respond to Suicidality
1. Take this person seriously
2. Acknowledge the depth of their pain, do NOT dismiss it.
3. Indicate that you CARE, offer reassurance and support
4. Tell somebody. Tell everybody. Don't keep it a secret, and don't say you will. All bets are off when it comes to saving someone's life.
5. Encourage professional help. Call a therapist, a suicide hotline (1-800-Suicide), make the initial appointment, get some other form of help.
6. Captalize on ANY doubt they might have. Most people are ambivalent about it it. If they are 50/50 on whether or not they want to live, nudge them to 51% life and 49% death. If they hit 51% death, that's when they'll attempt suicide. If they fear consequences like going to Hell, use that. If they don't want to leave loved ones behind, remind them. Any doubts they might have, drive those doubts home. Their life is at risk, any doubt is fair game here.
7. Ask direct questions about their intent
8. Do not leave them alone, or if you need to, get a no harm agreement.
9. Consider the 5-5-5 Cubelet. There are three dimensions: pain (internal anguish), pressure (external stressors), and press (intensity to do something right now). These dimensions are graded 1-5- If a person hits 5 on all of them, they will die of suicide. The idea is if you can bring them down to a 4 on any dimension, they will not go through with it. How to do this:
-Ask them to wait it out for the night or day or whatever period of time you can get them to
-Help ease their pain by acknowledging it and talking to them supportively
-If you can ease any external stressors, do so

If you cannot get a promise that they will not do it, get HELP now. If a person does promise, they generally won't do it.

I hope this helps!!!

Love and safety to you and your friend,
Angela