🚀 go-pugleaf

Here is a response that I received via mail concerning my little
submission of last week.  I believe there are several good
points here.  It is best to use all the means at your
disposal when trying to help and this response gives some good
places to start.

"If your friend is suicidal, I would strongly suggest that you convince (or
coerce if necessary) her to see a psychiatrist.  Emotional support is nice,
but a professional who is not as emotionally involved is also necessary.
I have been in this situation with a friend who (as I found out later) had
already made an unsuccessful attempt on his life when I met him.  If there
are financial problems about getting a psychiatrist, try a suicide-phone-
hot-line or local women's center or church.  This will probably be better for
her and easier for you.

P.S. The way that I got my friend to go to a psychiatrist was to offer to go
to the office with him and make the appointment for him, so it was easier to
agree with me than to refuse."

I've used all these ideas at various different times.

Steve Swift
..microsof!fluke!swifty