Bama,

You are a good friend to be concerned about your friend like that. If you feel that he is in immediate danger, you can call 911 or maybe get some ideas from a hotline (but they would probably tell you to call 911). You might save his life by getting him help at a crucial moment. On the other hand, if you call 911 and he's not suicidal right then, he might just resent you for calling for an intervention that he doesn't feel he needs or wants. Or maybe he does want help and doesn't know how to get it. You could give him some resources that he can contact if and when he feels that he needs to, such as phone numbers for crisis lines and local mental health providers, particularly if there is one that he would be able to afford (sliding scale?), and you can offer to be there for him as much as you are able to.

Please remember that you can't make someone else want to change. They have to decide that themselves. You also can't be responsible for his choices. Please keep yourself safe, no matter what you do.