It opens the door to a difficult subject and is often a relief for the person. Those who talk about their suicidal thoughts do attempt suicide. Case studies have shown that many people who take their lives have told others about it in the weeks prior to their death. If someone is going to kill themselves, there is nothing you can do about it. If you can offer appropriate help and emotional support to people who have suicidal thoughts then you can reduce the risk of them dying by suicide.
Suicidal people are fully intent on dying.
Many suicidal people are undecided about living or dying right up to the moment of attempting the suicidal act. Many people who have survived a suicide attempt report immediately feeling regret. If someone has a history of making 'cries for help' then they won't do it for real. Those who have attempted suicide once are 100 times more like than the general population to do so again. Approximately four in ten people who die by suicide have made a previous attempt.