Please help me respond to this?

[lottie63]

An ex-colleague has just sent me an email saying his life's not worth living. He had trouble at work and was placed on long-term sick leave. He sounds so low and is talking about he doesn't think he 'will make it'. He has a dw who gave birth 10 weeks ago. I have no idea what will help him most. I'm sure he will be under a doctor already (deemed to have had a breakdown). He sounds so lost. His email was a response to a 'Thinking of You' card that I sent a few weeks ago, saying I hoped he was okay. He sounds in a really bad way.

He needs to speak to a professional such as the Samaritans

email him back the telephone number and encourage him to call

then, I'm sorry, but you need to withdraw

you cannot help him any further

No, I don't agree. If you want to - and only if you want to - you could offer a listening ear, stay in contact by email, offer practical help to the family. If you look at the nhs website or Depression Alliance etc (or just google) you will find some suggestions of how to help if you want to.

Poor bloke, men can get post-natal depression too so it could be related to having a child. Do you know his wife? Can you talk to her about the email in case she is not aware of how serious his feelings are? He sounds desperate. I second the Samaritans, but think if he was my friend I would want to chat to him or meet up too.

Thanks. I can't just do nothing. He's not especially a close friend, just someone I worked with and got on okay with.

I don't know his wife but she must be very scared (she's just had their first baby). I'll check out those websites to see how I can best help.

No advice but what a shame :( he obviously feels he can confide in you, just by being there to listen you are probably helping him a great deal x

seconded the samaritans especially if he's in crisis right now. He can also go to A&E and ask for the on duty psychiatrist.

Other than that encourage him to go back to the docs and let them know where he's at. And to make sure he lets his wife know if he's feeling especially low.

He's probably sleep deprived.

Call him, speak yo him and maybe you can speak to his wife too. If he feels suicidal y has opened a little bridge by contacting you to ask for help. Talking to him wont hurt you and it might help him A LOT.