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I recently found out a friend of mine smokes cigarettes. They've had some suicidal tendencies in the past and I worry this might be part of it. I've seen some horrible effects of smoking and I want to save me friend from it! What can I and should I do?
Get him on E-cigs. I've recently taken it up to get off cigarettes and it's helping a lot.
That said, like others said, suicide trumps smoking here on the things that you should focus on.
Let people make their own decisions? I never heard of suicide by cigarette
The suggestion to get them on an ecig is an excellent one, but that will only help if your friend truly wants to quit. You might not want to hear it but the truth of the matter is you cannot help someone quit something, the willpower to do so much come from that individual. You can tie an addict to a bed and force them to detox, but the truth of the matter is it's not going to be a lasting change unless they want it themselves.
I wouldn't worry about cigarettes if your friend is suicidal, that is a much more serious thing to consider. Therapy, medication... there are so many wonderful resources out there to help them with the way they are feeling. It's not your responsibility to fix them but it's noble of you to want to try.
They may very well be resistant to your help, asking for help or admitting you need it is often very difficult to come to terms with that specter. Whatever happens, whether you are able to help them or not, don't blame yourself or hold too much of the responsibility. It can be painful and exhausting and put a lot of stress on the friends and loved ones of someone suffering from mental illness, and much like addiction or even just in those who like to putt off medical issues, it's something they must ultimately come to themselves.
The best thing you can do is be there for them, listen to them, and be receptive to any help they may ask for directly or indirectly. Just knowing someone is there and caring is so important for someone suffering as your friend is, but trying to force them to change will not be a productive avenue to take.
If he has suicidal tendencies, the smoking shouldn't be your focus. It might be a symptom, but it surely isn't the cause. It's good you want to help your friend, but you don't do that by trying to fix his behaviour - You find out what's really bothering him or try to get him to seek counceling.
You can't stop someone else from smoking. I have COPD from decades of smoking and a family member did stop after I was honest about the effects of it, but that's an exception.
Nagging your friend about smoking will just be annoying. I smoke and hate when people bitch about me smoking. It's something I enjoy and my own choice.
Take them to the nearest hospital with end of life/stage 4 COPD patients on it. Smoking will soon lose it's allure.