[BlueFaith]

I have a friend that keeps threatening to kill himself. He lives in another state... I'm in Tennessee... he's in North Carolina. But, I really feel that he's serious about this. I don't know what to do. I can't drive 8 hours to be there for support. I've talked to him on the phone. He's had alot of things go wrong for him lately. And, he's so depressed. I've tried to talk him into going to the hospital, but he won't go. He called me just a while ago talking about what he was going to do to himself. So, when we hung up I called the police there where he lives and told them that he was threatening suicide. They told me they'd go check on him. I'm really worried, and I don't know what else I can do. Should I be doing more? I feel so helpless...

I hope I posted this in the right place.

((( Jenn )))

I'm so sorry. It's so scary.

You did the right thing. Just know that.

The waiting and worrying is just awful, though. My heart goes out to you.

Will someone be able to call you and let you know what happens?

[BlueFaith]

((( Petunia )))
Thank you so much. There's no one there that can call me to let me know what's happened with him... so I just have to wait and hope that he calls me soon.

[bebop]

mp you did the right thing hon. if he has a plan then he is serious. can you call the police dept back and talk to them? explain that you are in another state and you are the one that called it in? good luck sweetie

[Direction]

You did the right thing...most likely unless he calls you ... you will have to unfortunately wait...I'm sorry as I know you are worried...He will be in a safer place than he was...

Accessing a mental health facility comes with it a lot of confidentiality...One hospital we created a password...anyone who didn't know the password was told that they didn't have a patient by that name...

[sabby]

(((((((((((((MP and Friend)))))))))))))

So sorry this is going on hon. It's so very difficult to help from far away. You did the right thing sweety. There was nothing more you could have done. When talking to them isn't working, action is the only thing that will.

I went through just the same thing 2 nights ago with a friend. Luckily I was able to get her to agree to call 911 before she passed out from taking too many pills. Waiting for over 24 hours to hear back from her was so stressful, but I had to believe that no news was good news. Sure enough, I heard from her and she is ok for the moment. I pray the same goes for your friend hon.

You are a wonderful person to take something like this on and try to help. It is a very hard thing to do. You are a good friend! If you want to chat privately with any concerns, feel free to pm me

Love and Hugs
Jean

mp, this is tough i know.
i'm sorry but i have a different take on this crisis.
your friend should not have put you in this situation..and by situation i meant the fact that he went on and on about this.
if someone mentions it one time, you can be there to console him and give him advice but it is unfair to burden you this way (several times) when you're powerless to do anything about it.
you can't control the world.
everyone has free will and makes choices every day.
i've learned to accept there will be chaos in life and will not take the world on my shoulders.
take comfort in the fact that you spoke your piece to him and whether he follows it or not is truly up to him.

[Cheri]

He may have been reaching out to her, hoping she'd call the police or get him the help he wasn't comfortable accessing himself.

My oldest daughter had a friend who was threatening a Columbine-type massacre at her school. After talking with him online for a few hours, she finally told us and we called the police. They took him to the hospital, where he got in-patient treatment for several weeks. The first few days he was there, he refused to take her calls or see her, saying he was angry that she'd stopped him... after about a week, he called and asked to see her, and told her how grateful he was that she'd gotten him help. It turned out he didn't even have a gun; he was just desperate and couldn't call for himself.

There was a happy ending to that story, and I hope there will be to this one, too. I think she did the right thing.

MP, I think you did the right thing.

[Direction]

Good post Cheri...

[lenjan]

((((((((((((Jenn))))))) You did the right thing. You are a very caring friend. I hope you get good news.

<font color="#000088"> I know you did the right thing,even though it feels scary now that you haven't heard from him yet.It may mean that he's getting help,just try to think positive and wait to hear from him.
It took a lot of courage to do what you did, and I respect you for that.I had a similar situation where a friend of mine told me she was suicidal,and she was asking me where the arteries were in her neck,and similar questions that led me to believe she was serious.So as soon as I got done talking to her I called her Doctor,which was also a good friend to her,knowing that she would be able to calm her down,but if not she had the authority to put her in the hospital involuntarily if necessary.
Later that night,that friend called back,and told me she felt better,and thanked me for calling her Doctor/friend to help her!

So don't give up,your friend may call after some time and tell you he was getting help. The police won't tell where they got thier information from,at least thier not supposed to.But if your friend is in the hospital getting treatment,it may take some time in thier before he/she would be able to contact you.
So just be patient, and give it some time, but keep reminding yourself that you may have saved this friends life! </font>

[BlueFaith]

My friend finally called me yesterday. He had to stay at the hospital for awhile. But he is ok. They got him set up with a psychiatrist to see on a regular basis. And, he even thanked me for calling... he said he was having a really hard time when he called me. I'm so glad I did call. Thank you everyone.

[sabby]

That's wonderful news MP

Thanks for letting us know!

Hugssss
J

[Direction]

That is good news...I'm so happy for you...