I know someone who used to self-harm a lot. She struggled so much that she often spoke of ending it all. My own days were not easy then, yet I could see plainly that her load was the heavier one. I took to ringing her each day, needing to hear her voice, to know she had survived another night. I remember fashioning a sort of playful oath between us that if she ever slip away, I would follow her straight down to the hell itself, if only to give her the most thorough scolding she had ever received.
There is a viral tweet where the author said they despised "sad people" or "people who are always sad." I believe such declarations spring either from a comfortable ignorance of true suffering or from a corrosive self-hatred. Both are troubling. Those who have genuinely lost someone to suicide understand the frivolousness of such pronouncements. What purpose do they serve, except to deepen the shame of those already steeped in it? And if it stems from self-loathing, you have merely invited strangers to confirm your darkest suspicions about yourself. If you are reading this and recognize yourself, know that you do not deserve contempt for your struggles.
Anyhoo, I am going to tell you for free that "what we like" is overrated. Most of us simply need to be more responsible and destroy this idea that things have to be comfortable to be acted upon. We need to seriously revive our sense of duty. Many things are going to be uncomfortable in this life and yet they will be necessary. I did not like that I got anxious when I tried her number and she did not pick up. Her tears were gut-wrenching, It was sad and frustrating that someone close to me struggled so much, yet, I felt like I couldn't do anything about it. But I had to do whatever it is I could do at the time to not make her feel helpless and lonely. For a struggling person close to suicide, there are limited options and none of them are pleasant. A little perception from you can reduce the fire that surrounds them.
I realized early that the world was not fashioned to suit my temperament. It is no different for you either. Why are you loving in bits and buts? Who said anything was going to be easy? Presence, even when absence is more convenient is the true essence of community. I rather doubt anyone wakes choosing sadness. If someone appears to linger in despair even when escape seems possible, they are already unwell. One does not develop an affinity for death unless their will to live has been seriously poisoned.
They may hide it, they will perhaps tell you that nothing is wrong, but please do not ever ignore signs or see it as an avenue to stay clear. A part of their soul is reaching out, they want to be held. They want to not feel alone. The way I best understand this is to imagine the worst case scenarios. If your friend told you they meant to end their life today, what would you do? If they lay in hospital with some physical malady, would you turn away? If you yourself were drowning, would you truly wish to be left to the depths alone?