Thank you for posting this. I'm going to take the opportunity to repost a comment I made on a thread about suicide and veterans. I think most of the tips here are relevant for EVE and life in general.

First, when a suicide happens, please don't blame yourself because many things are only obvious in retrospect and there is no appropriate training that can help someone prevent every suicide. Suicide is a growing problem among members of the military and veterans (thanks for the link /u/portrayaloflife). Hopefully this message will help someone prevent a suicide somewhere in the world:

How to identify and help prevent suicide:

Remember: Most suicidal people have lost hope. Few people truly want to die. To people that are considering suicide, death is their only escape. The most important thing is to offer hope.

Note: Not every suicide is preventable, and we should try to remember this during tragedies like these. I've lost 3 friends to suicide over the last few years, and in events like these there is always soul-searching afterwards. "What could I have done differently?" "How could I have prevented this?" We can't beat ourselves up over these feelings, because in the aftermath of a tragedy it is important to take the time to grieve, heal, and try to pick up the pieces. Still, many suicides are preventable.

Also note that the below advice is in line with recommendations from the QPR Institute but is no substitute for proper QPR training, so take this advice with you and get actual training too!

Remember QPR -

Question: If you see warning signs of suicidal ideation, be up front and ask the person if they have had any thoughts or plans of/for committing suicide. Note: the wrong way to ask this question is: "You haven't been thinking about killing yourself, have you?" This is bad because it makes their thoughts seem secondary to your feelings. Instead, ask: "Hey, you've been going through some crap - have you been feeling out of sorts?" follow this up (if yes) with "Have you had any thoughts about killing yourself?"

Asking the question so bluntly can feel out of place or awkward. Ignore those feelings. In this situation avoiding awkwardness is less important than potentially saving someone's life.

Persuade: Persuade the person to seek medical help. Listen to them, offer them hope (such as you can), and let them know that you want to help them.

Refer: Refer the individual to the relevant crisis centers or professionals in your area. Could include clinics, police, ministers, teachers/professors, coaches, or counselors. Remember: Unless you have extensive mental health training through a social work/counseling/psychiatric program you are probably not qualified to fully handle this kind of situation. Bring them to the experts.

Warning signs that are especially relevant for someone you see on a weekly basis:

• "Here, have my [item of significance]. I like it a lot, but I want you to have it." Often, people will give away valued possessions before they attempt suicide.

• "I won't be around for much longer" Statements like these can be warning signs.

• "Hey, have a good life - won't see you again" Someone that is saying goodbyes and isn't moving, etc. could be suicidal.

• Someone that is always at a weekly event that hasn't shown up for a couple sessions in a row without reason could be going through a severe depressive episode.

More here

A few myths:

• Myth: Suicides can't be prevented.

• Fact: Over 60% of people that attempt suicide directly intimate their intent to a friend before their attempt. When people are referred to get help, outcomes are typically positive.

• Myth: Talking to someone about suicide is likely to "push them over the edge".

• Fact: Studies show that this doesn't happen, and talking to someone about suicide isn't going to cause "inception" and push that idea into their head.

• Myth: People that talk about suicide are just joking.

• Fact: Don't ignore statements like these. You don't know if they are joking or not. This is especially true for statements that indicate hopelessness "I can't see any way out" being an example. This is why I try to call people out for joking about suicide, because it makes real calls for help be heard less seriously.

• Myth: Suicidal people are all "crazies".

• Fact: Mental distress doesn't mean a person is "crazy".

If you would like proper training with this method the QPR Institute has trainings at many public health and higher education offices throughout the USA.

edit /u/lheritier1789 has a great post for people that might feel uncomfortable with asking the question so bluntly here.