Loving Someone with Suicidal Thoughts

What Family, Friends, and Partners Can Say and Do

by Stacey Freedenthal; David A Jobes

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Pub Date Feb 23 2023 | Archive Date Jan 02 2023

New Harbinger Publications, Inc. | New Harbinger

Self-Help

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Description

If you have a loved one who is experiencing suicidal thoughts, you may feel deeply afraid-both of loss and of saying the wrong thing and making matters worse. Based on decades of clinical experience in suicidology, this compassionate guide gives readers the essential communication techniques and coping skills they need to support a loved one in crisis, while also taking care of themselves.

If you love someone who is having suicidal thoughts, you may struggle with the profound fear of saying or doing the wrong thing. You want to help, and you may even feel a kind of desperation to make sure your loved one is safe, but are unsure of where to start. This book can guide you as you support your loved one-without sacrificing your own needs and well-being. You'll find the answers to some of your most urgent questions, including:

- What are signs, symptoms, and clues of suicide risk?

- How do I talk with my loved one about their suicidal thoughts?

- When should I call the police?

- What treatments are available?

- How can I help the person I care about stay safe?

- What can I do to help them feel better?

- What can I do to cope better, too?

- What happens after a suicidal crisis?

Written by a psychotherapist and based on decades of clinical experience in suicidology, this compassionate guide offers essential communication techniques you can use to help your loved one, as well as coping and self-care strategies to help you navigate intense stress, worry, fear, and anxiety. Drawn from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and mindful self-compassion, the tools in this book will assist you in navigating difficult or painful conversations with your loved one, as well as manage your own emotions. If someone close to you is experiencing suicidal thoughts, you may feel afraid-both of loss and of saying the wrong thing and making matters worse. This book will help you recognize warning signs, improve communication, create a safety plan, know when to seek professional help, and support a loved one in crisis.

Advance Praise

“Nothing hurts more than losing your loved one to suicide. Nothing terrifies more than your loved one feeling or acting suicidal. Most people feel helpless, confused, and paralyzed—not knowing what to say, do, think, or feel. This precious book is an essential guide through the perilous storm, a treasure both for everyone who feels suicidal, and for everyone who loves them.”
—Allen Frances, MD, professor and chair emeritus in the Duke University department of psychiatry

“‘What do I do?’ is the most frequently asked question I receive from family members, friends, and coworkers hoping to support and help someone they care about who has suicidal thoughts. Finally, there’s a simple, easy-to-follow ‘how-to’ guide that can help anyone asking this question. Stacey Freedenthal’s book fills a much-needed gap in suicide prevention and should be available in every mental health clinic, crisis center, and school. I’ll be ordering in bulk to make sure I always have a copy on hand to share with those who need it.”
—Craig J. Bryan, PsyD, ABPP, stress, trauma, and resilience professor of psychiatry and behavioral health at The Ohio State University College of Medicine; and author of Rethinking Suicide: Why Prevention Fails, and How We Can Do Better