You can do a lot, but he might not like everything.

You need to know if your friend is receiving treatment, if their parents are aware of their situation and their distress—in short, if there are already many of you forming a support network. If so, all that's left is for you to befriend someone who sees no reason to live. This means you'll have to take more initiative in the relationship; sometimes you might even have to be a little persistent to make them aware of what they're currently unable to see: that they're not alone, that you care about them and are happy to help, that they're not a burden, that you're aware of the efforts they're making, that they shouldn't worry, and that they shouldn't give in to despair. Remember the importance of connection.

If, on the other hand, you're the one who receives the initial news, the situation is more complicated for you, because at that moment your friend might struggle to see, or agree with, the importance of creating and activating that support network, the importance of their parents knowing about their situation, and the importance of more people being involved in their recovery process. A friendship is based on doing what's best for the other person, not on keeping poisonous secrets . Unfortunately, we've had to deal with young people who kept their friend's secret, and that friend ended up dying by suicide. The guilt these young people feel is immense, even though they don't actually feel guilty, and it's not easy to face that situation. We can't handle this reality alone.