Life Challenges

How to Help a Suicidal Friend

Stick with them. We feel inadequate when walking alongside someone who is suffering deeply, but presence is one of the best gifts you can give someone in pain. We also know that God's Word can equip you to love well and to speak life-giving words of hope to your friend.

Listen
On Spotify

We have curated a playlist for you, relevant to this topic.
Listen for free on Spotify!

Short Content

How to Help Your Suicidal Friend

If you are reading this, you are likely wondering how to help someone very close to you who is walking through deep darkness. How challenging and daunting! So how can you help your suicidal friend?

We cannot say all there is to be said, but we found two Bible verses that we believe will be very helpful to you.

“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” (James 1:19 NIV)

“And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.” (Jude 22-23 ESV)

First, listen. Be slow to speak. Your friend is deeply hurting, and pat answers won’t do. God doesn’t always give us the why behind suffering or even the way out of it. But he gives us hope through his Word to carry us through it.

He gives us his hand to hold as we wade through dark times, and often he gives us the hand of a good friend too! Listen well. There may be a period of time when it’s best to just stick by your friend’s side before you find words to say (Job 2:13).

But sometimes words are necessary, and you might be one of the few people your friend is willing to hear (Esther 4:14). You have the opportunity to speak truth in love. Offer genuine hope for your friend’s despair. Help them see the hope of Jesus for sinners and sufferers.

Encourage your friend to fear God and not harm themselves, warn them of the seriousness of their actions, and help them consider Jesus Christ, who is our light and life. Hope is not found in ending life, but in receiving new life from Jesus (John 17:3; John 14:6).

Lastly, pray. Plead to God on your friend’s behalf. He can work in any life, in any situation. If you don’t know what to pray, consider the prayer listed at the bottom of this page, Ephesians 3:14-21, which God gave to help us plead for his strength.

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20 NLT)

by Bibles.net

OPEN YOUR BIBLE

Theme Verse

...the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.

PROVERBS 27:9 ESV

How to Help a Suicidal Friend?
Verse
Romans 15:14 NIV

I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another.

Article: 10 Min

13 Reasons to Give Your Children for Why Life Is Worth Living

by Julie Lowe at Desiring God

Verse
Jude 22-23 NLT

And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.

Verse
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NKJV

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.

Article: 15 Min

Suicide Prevention and Grieving a Suicide

This article includes:

  • Suicide Assessment
  • 11 Myths and Misperceptions about Suicide
  • You Can Help Your Suicidal Friend
  • Conducting a Funeral When Suicide Is the Cause of Death
  • Hope for the Suicidal Mind
  • A Prayer for Those Left Behind After Suicide

by the Biblical Counseling Coalition Staff

Verse
Galatians 6:1-2 ESV

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Chill & Relaxing

Prayer for a Friend

by Casting Crowns

Chill & Relaxing

To All The Poets

by Andrew Peterson

Pop

Hold Her

by for KING & COUNTRY
Verse
Pray For Your Friend:

"When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen."

Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT

Books
Books