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[slac vap]

Not sure if you caught my lengthy post from last night, but I wanted to offer some bit of advice for you anyway.  My best advice for you is that if you are concerned about this student, you might consider calling your local suicide hotline yourself and explaining the situation.  Most likely they will tell you that since she is expressing that she occasionally has suicidal thoughts, but is denying intent to hurt herself, there is little you can do besides continuing to offer support if she contacts you again.  But the benefit of calling the suicide hotline is that it is run by trained individuals who can put you in touch with mental health professionals.  The advice you get from them is likely to be more reassuring and more in line with your local laws and standards than any advice you will receive on these boards.  Mental health hotlines are not just for patients- they are also sources of referral for family, friends, and others who are curious about what they can do to cope with/support another person who is suffering from psychiatric problems.  Good luck and take care.

[worried]

Thank you so much. I could not find my post for anything and I was not sure what happened. I don't want to cross boundaries or make myself sick over this but it has weighed so heavily on my mind. Im sure I am extra sensitive to this due to my own history of depression and suicidal thoughts. I know how hard and lonely the experience can be and I just fear for her. Thank you for the thoughts you've shared. I will try to keep folks updated who are interested.

[Prytania]

I don't know how close you are to this student, but if you know where she lives, you could visit her. She may appreciate the company and also you could find out if she has things to eat. If she's too depressed she'll no doubt avoid the grocery store.

This is in addition to slac vac's suggestions.