I Gotta' Say This...

Suicide is a problem for men like you and me.

Men 45 years and older are the leading candidates to die by suicide.

Yes, there are many statistics about the rise of suicide, the risks, and the methods men use to end their lives. Here are some from the United States Center for Disease Control.

But I want to focus on what we can do as a friend.

#1 Talk about it—and ASK.

Guys can find it hard to talk about emotions but you NEED to find out if your friend is thinking about hurting themselves. If you have a question like, “Hey, I wonder if he is thinking suicide,” then ask.

It’s not hard. Just two sentences.

#2 Connect

You can solve one problem immediately for a suicidal friend.

Be with them.

Let them know they are not alone.

Let your friend know you love and care for him.

Remind him of other people he is connected to.

Just listen and say, “Hey man. I care about you and I am right here, right now.”

#3 Connect them with Professional Help.

You have two choices.

If the person is not in a critical emergency, connect them to a counselor within the week.

If your friend is in a right-now, dangerous situation then IMMEDIATELY go with them and:

—Connect them to a counselor or other mental health professional OR
—Take them to the Emergency Room

Suicide rates continue to be high for men in my age bracket. We need to talk about it with each other and think about our response as a friend.

Don’t be afraid to talk to your friends about suicide.