serious post: My really good friends brother just commited suicide

[MLG]

Nielsio,
I dont want to derail this thread, but the fact of the matter is that people without training are not equipped to deal with the issues surrounding suicide. Whether its the underlying issues that caused the brother's suicide and whether they are present with the friend, or whether its the issues that this suicide may cause with the friend, that kind of emotional baggage is way out of a non-professoinal's depth.

There are certain situations where you can encourage somebody to seek help, but its a very very delicate line to balance. Many people still see going to a mental health professional as somehow stigmatizing them, and you suggesting it may do more harm than good. If you anticipate that suggestion will be met with hostility to the point of undermining the support you are trying to provide as a friend it is probably not the best time to broach the subject.

Obviously if you are worried about somebody close to you harming themselves though its a whole different ballgame.