[Zeena]

I need advice on how I can help my friend.I just got a call from a close friend of mine,and my friend just told me that a close friend of his had committed suicide a few minutes ago.My friend whose name is Robbie told me that his friend committed suicide because he was severely depressed and he had been going through so much drama in life,he was 22 years old.He was abused by his parents all the time from ages 6-8 years of age.

He had been abandoned by his parents when he was 8yrs old and his aunt took him in,but a month after he lived with her she started abusing him too and she abandoned him too so he had to live in an foster home.He lived in the foster home until he was 18yrs old.He was bullied in middle school and high school all the time and he didn't have any friends except for Robbie all his other friends turned their backs on him.He had got his own apartment and job when he was 18 years old.He was fired from his job a week ago and his fiancée left him the same day he was fired for someone else.

My friend is so devastated behind the death of his friend.I have never seen or heard my friend cry before,but tonight he's crying so hard and he's so hurt.My friend had depression too and I'm worried this will only make his depression worse.I can't stand knowing my friend is hurting so bad,I want to comfort him and help him feel better but I don't know what to do or what to say to mend his broken heart.

I feel so totally useless and helpless right now!! Does anyone know what I can do to help my friend??

[Espy]

I don't know your friend, and I don't know his personality, but I've been hit hard by things like this twice the past couple of months, so I know where he's coming from. After a friend's death back in December, groups of mutual friends just hung out for hours on end, just to talk and cry on each others' shoulders. We didn't care at all that we were in the middle of a cafe.

Like I said, it varies from person to person. I'd suggest you just keep talking to him, and judge from his tone whether he wants to be left alone or have someone to comfort him. Maybe bring up some good memories is he want to talk abouthis friend.

...I'm sorry I can't be a bit more helpful...

[Kilala Mikal]

Oh dear...
I'd say that the best thing to do would be to be there if your friend wants to talk. Give him a shoulder to cry on, and let him know he's not alone. When I was depressed, my biggest issue was loneliness... So make sure your friend knows that he has someone who cares.

[Hermes]

My response to these situations usually depends on the person. If it's someone I know online, I just make myself available for conversation and do a lot of reading, very little typing. If it's someone I know in real life, I usually just get right up, go over, and hug them, but that doesn't always work for everyone. The truth is, there's no set thing to do, and even then, nothing makes it better. I think John Green put it best in his book The Fault In Our Stars: "That's the thing about pain: It demands to be felt."

That may be a slight paraphrase, but still, you get it.