How do you help someone who says he doesn't want to live?

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I don't know if this is the proper place, but I feel worried and maybe there isn't much time...
This guy I know from a forum apparently had a breakup with his girlfriend, he had put a lot of effort on this relationship (apparently he took it as a personal duty to help her though tough times), and now he says he doesn't have anything left to live for. I've tried to suggest him to take his mind off her by doing things he likes, but he says they all remind him of her. Then I suggested him to try new things instead, but he says he doens't have the means. At least he has made it to this day, yesterday he was saying he didn't have anything to get him to today, but now he's saying he doesn't want tolive anymore and hasn't anything to live for. I've told him he does indeed have but he's too confused to realize it and should take a break to clear his head, but he hasn't answered, that was half an hour ago (that's when I replied, but he first posted about 3 hours earlier). Any suggestions?

Can you only communicate via email? I take it he doesn't live near you? I always struggle with what to say to people when they are feeling discouraged. This might sound over simplified, but once when I was clearly suicidal, I had a counselor who worked on a hot line. She told me that the staff there had made me a gift basket, and that they were planning to deliver it to me. Even though I felt that I could care less about it, there was something to look forward to, and I couldn't help but feel curious what I would be receiving. It helped me to get through a bad time.

Your friend needs something to look forward to. Maybe you can get his physical address and tell him you are mailing something to him? Even a postcard, or a CD might distract him from his grief!

Go for it! Maybe you can help him get through a bad time. The problem with feeling suicidal, is that we tend to believe that it will last forever. It's good if we can get help in getting past it.

Unfortunately, he hasn't answered yet...

knew a fellow a long time ago who was a terrific artist, had a great following and killed himself when his girlfriend left him. i'm pretty sure it wasn't just that pain, but being right on the edge and having something push you over.

i've been there myself as i'm sure a lot of people on this site have been.

sometimes there's nothing you can do. obviously you think he's going to do it, so how far are you willing to go to stop him? do you know who any of his physicians are? in usa, doctors can have someone hospitalized for days if they think they might harm any human, including themselves. he might be pretty mad if you do this, but......
if it happens, don't blame yourself. all you really can do is to be there for him if he needs you.

Looks like he has calmed down a bit now...