a suicide threat should always be taken seriously, they may not go ahead with the idea straight after theyve spoke to you but theres always tomorrow, or the day after or a few months down the line.

i dont know what the best way to handle a situation like this would be but its so important to let them know that theyre not crazy or weak or anything negative in that respect. everyone has a different pain threshold and the pain she's feeling has just exceeded her ability to cope with it. they are not a bad person and its vital that they realise that.

maybe ask her how long shes been feeling the way she has been. she mightve been thinking about it for a very long time but even so ask her to wait a day or something to re- evaluate things. she spoke to you about it, so shes not acting on her suicide impulses at that moment and thats a good start.

the way i see it is that all these feelings are just that- *feelings* good or bad. the pain is just a feeling, the relief from it is just a feeling. she possibly doesnt want to die, only just to find some relief. if youre not alive you can never feel that relief anymore.

i dont know what the best thing she needs would be, but i know having someone who will just listen to her will go such a long way. it doesnt matter if she is crying for attention- sometimes we need that attention and it isnt a bad thing.