I need advice

[cindyperry2010]

i have a friend from the army an afghanistan war vet. ran across him on facebook been chatting and reminiscing. he told me previously he tried to kill himself and fully intends to again. he is in a va hospital in milwaukee for ptsd. he messaged me and told me he is going to try to kill himself again. i messaged his sister and told her this. did i do the right thing the guilt of not doing anything was eating me up even though he will probably do it anyway

[Motown_Johnny]

1. yes you did the right thing

it sounds like a cry for help and if telling his sister is the most help you could give then that was the best thing to do.

[1StrongBlackMan]

2. You DID do something ...

you informed his sister. As impotent as it may seem, making someone involved is about all you can do.

[nobodyspecial]

3. If someone is determined, no matter what you do or don't do

will change the outcome. But, since he did tell you, he is not fully committed. He wants help and somebody to stop him. It he continues to not be able to resolve his crisis, he might try again.

[msanthrope]

4. Yes. You did the right thing. nt

[Happyhippychick]

5. Of course you did! By him telling you, that's exactly what he wanted.

If he didn't want someone to stop him he wouldn't have told you. You did the right thing.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. You absolutely did the right thing!

I am not surprised that anyone who has been through all the crap he has is suicidal. Suicides now outnumber the casualties from combat.

Hopefully he will get the help he desperately needs.

Good for you.

[Wounded Bear]

7. Pop psych aside, yes you did the right thing....

You might even consider calling the hospital he's staying at.

The VA takes suicide very seriously. I can't even call the VA office without hearing a phone message about suicide intervention.

Don't beat yourself up about some false "privacy" concerns. You care about your friend. You did the right thing.

[LiberalAndProud]

8. You need

a hug.

You did what you could. I hope your friend finds his way through his dark, dark tunnel. I wish him serenity.

[nolabear]

9. Cindy, you absolutely did the right thing.

You may well have saved his life. One thing I've learned is that as long as you are living there is hope that something will help. You did triage. He might be mad but he's alive and mad. I sympathize with the way he feels and one never knows, the illness might win and he might succeed at some time, but to do other than what you did is unthinkable to most people. It's a position he put you in, possibly so you could report it and he could be mad at you, but he's alive and mad at you.

Good luck. I wish you both well.

[bigwillq]

10. I feel you did the right thing

[guardian]

11. You did the right thing.

My son killed himself a few months ago. I give anything if we could have known of his intent and had a chance of intervening. The emptiness and senseless of his death has been crushing.