Therapists must be very sensitive in handling suicidal ideation and threats. The main and primary factor in working with such ideation is taking away the person's underlying experience of being alone. In order to help people with suicidal ideation, it is important to quickly convey a personal connection. Our approach toward the person should be non-threatening and avoid any kind of power struggle. Sometimes the goal is to 'buy time'. With a client who is 'standing on the ledge', I might acknowledge that he certainly has the ability to end it all now, however "Is there a reason it has to be right now. Let's talk it over, and see if we can resolve it. If not then you can always end it tomorrow." It is also helpful to remind the client that suicide is a "long term solution to a short term problem."   National Suicide HOTLINE phone # is: 988