Anna's Story

Talking about Suicide

"My brother still lives where I grew up--on a reservation for Native Americans in Montana. Last year, his wife left him. He became very depressed and started to drink a lot. Lately he's been talking about wanting to kill himself.

At first I had no idea what to say to my brother. I was terrified! Even though I wanted to help him, I was afraid of saying the wrong thing. My friend said I should talk with a mental health counselor to learn more about depression and the risk of suicide. I found a wonderful person at our neighborhood health clinic. She helped me to figure out what to say to my brother and she showed me how to work through my own feelings of helplessness."

If you want to learn more about how to talk with a loved one about suicide, start by clicking on The Basics. Also, be sure to read the Tips and Extras on the right side of your screen. You are viewing the printer-friendly page version of Anna's Story

Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02215
URL: http://www.positiveaging.org/consumer/eh_anna.shtml
Category: Emotional Health Suicide
Page Name: Anna's Story