Many therapists believe that the cause of such actions root from depression, and hating one's life etc.. . Now although those emotions are correlated, I believe they are not the cause. The reason why this matters, is because if suicide stems from depression, etc. . Then the way to help is through medication, and trying to help them stop being depressed. - Good luck. However, if I can root these thoughts in a positive intent - now we are talking, and there is something to work with. A mentor of mine told me a story, that brings out this concept well.
Groups of people would go rafting every summer somewhere upstate. In the river, there was a specific spot all the rafters would come across with a protruding rock, that caused the rafts to flip . The rafting instructors would always instruct the groups that when they reach that spot, they should paddle away from the rock, but to no avail. Despite their efforts, the groups wouldn't be able to avoid it. The Head instructor thought of a wonderful idea, instead of trying to tell the groups to paddle away from the rock, he started to tell them where they Should paddle! . The instructor would say, when they see this rock 40 feet ahead, paddle towards the trees "over there". Sure enough, it worked, the rafts weren't flipping anymore.
This head instructor taught us a life lesson. In life people always need to focus where they want to be in life to truly "go places". Back to Suicide, here is the positive emotions we can focus on.. I truly believe it stems from self-care. WHAT? HOW DOES THAT MAKE SENSE AREN'T THEY TRYING TO END THEIR LIFE ??? That's the total opposite of self-care??? - I understand your questions, I'll explain.
If you ask a person why they are suicidal?, they will say, life is so painful I don't want it, etc.. they may want to jump off a bridge. However, they don't want to just break some bones, that would be the terrible. The last thing they want is more pain, they want to end life because they are trying to avoid pain. They don't see a possible way out of their misery, and that's why they just want to die. If you were able to pull them out of their struggles they would happily move on, and love life. They will tell you that, they just have zero motivation to do so because they don't believe it's possible to separate pain and life. All they truly want is to end the pain. When we understand this we can understand the person about to jump, they have unbelievable self-love and self-care much more than others, to the extent that they are willing to do something so drastic that others don't have the guts to do, all to stop their pain. Wow I respect that boldness to take action. Once they realize their positive intent , suddenly there is a way forward.
You can start a conversation about, life and pain, showing how they can be detached. You can explain that if they help themselves, and get the right guidance necessary, they have a much better chance of ending the pain. Because if they kill themselves, do they really end the pain???. What if after life's over the pain is worse than the pain of being alive?. Just because they won't be physically here, and they won't have people problems on this earth, are they sure they won't have emotional pain? . Is it worth the risk?, emotional pain can " take the cake" over physical pain, anyone who experienced it will tell you that.
After the person who is struggling understands this, so many options open. You can tell them, it's ok, many people unfortunately have these thoughts from time to time, through real difficult situations. But I'm right here. Let me help you out, I'll connect you with some amazing people. Do mind work, maybe change scenery and surroundings. Write up a plan with small doable steps for physical exercise, and dietary changes. Of course emotional Healing etc... and before you know it.... they will be a revitalized person !.