For help in dealing with a suicidal crisis right now, please call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

If you love someone who has suicidal thoughts, you may struggle with profound fear of saying or doing the wrong thing. You desperately want to help, but you're unsure of where to start. This book can guide you as you support your loved one—without sacrificing your own needs and well-being. You'll find the answers to some of your most urgent questions, including:

Written by a psychotherapist and expert in suicidology, this compassionate guide offers essential communication techniques you can use to help your loved one, as well as strategies for navigating your own stress, worry, fear, and anxiety. Drawn from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and mindful self-compassion, the tools in this book will help you recognize warning signs, improve communication, create a safety plan, know when to seek professional help, and support a loved one in crisis.