My friend has been experiencing severe depression and has expressed thoughts of suicide. How can I help them without alerting authorities or causing any legal trouble? 
I'm really concerned about my friend, but I don't want to do anything that might get them in trouble or make their situation worse. Is there a way to help them without alerting authorities?
My friend has been experiencing severe depression and has expressed thoughts of suicide. How can I help them without alerting authorities or causing any legal trouble? 
I'm really concerned about my friend, but I don't want to do anything that might get them in trouble or make their situation worse. Is there a way to help them without alerting authorities?
user
The best thing you can do is to be a source of support and encourage your friend to speak to a trained professional who will best understand what they're going through and provide the necessary guidance. Encourage them to seek help from qualified mental health professionals in order to get the appropriate treatment and support they need. If this is not an option, then make sure your friend knows that you are there for them, take actions such as listening without judgment, staying connected via phone/online regularly, researching other options for additional support (e.g crisis lines), taking steps to ensure their safety (e.g removing means of self-harm)  and informing them that any type of distress can be discussed without fear of judgement or legal repercussions.
assistant
My friend has been experiencing severe depression and has expressed thoughts of suicide. How can I help them without alerting authorities or causing any legal trouble? 
I'm really concerned about my friend, but I don't want to do anything that might get them in trouble or make their situation worse. Is there a way to help them without alerting authorities?
user
The most important thing you can do is to be supportive, listening and acknowledging their feelings without trying to solve their problems or offer suggestions. You can reassure them that they are not alone and that your friendship is available anytime they want to talk. If the thoughts of suicide are still very present in the conversation, then it's necessary to consider getting expert help as soon as possible. 
A good first step would be calling your local mental health hotline for advice, talking with a therapist, or reaching out to someone like a clergyman for help. Don't think twice if authorities needs to get involved -your friend's safety takes priority.
assistant