It's not a literal ledge
I'd get him/her to talk about why s/he was there in the first place, and then I'd ask him/her about his/her life, who s/he'll be leaving behind, etc. Just saying 'it isn't worth it' won't cut it. Almost all the experts agree: you have to engage their mind, and get them to think about pretty much anything but the immediate task to which they've set themselves.
I would try to show him what he couldn't see. Sometimes it just takes a different perspective. People tend to think worse of themselves than they really are, and it's easy to get caught up in that way of thinking. But we always have options, and there are always more steps to take to get closer to where you wanna be, even in the darkest times. It's easier said than done, of course, and I'm probably not the best example for that, but it's much better to have some company through those trials, or at least someone to shine a light once in a while, than to brood alone in the dark. Maybe all I could do is reach out with my right hand and wait for him to grab it with his. Someone's gotta know they need help, and they've got to be ready to reach out, to set off a series of changes. Interventions only work when the addict decides to make that change, and then it's a life-long trial. How is it possible to recover when you have to be lower than ever before to get better? It's a matter of will, and will comes from within. (And I know you've got it in ya.)
Color me once
Color me twice
Everything gonna turn out nice
Everlasting arms
You gotta keep me from these false alarms
Alarm, alarm I see you sad
Ring, ring I see you I'm glad
Maybe maybe
I'm the fire of her desire
Patience, patience
Said the man
Patience patience
I can't understand
Patience like a man and a wife
I got patience on my neck like a cold cold knife
I say Jack be nimble Jack fall dead
Jack bend over and give Jilly head
Oh you gotta help my body feel my soul
Dead men working a sinner, a saint
Mixing up a pail of paint
Painted the house, black as night
When the sun came up the house was white
Gotta go on
Gotta go on
We gotta go on
You gotta go on
You gotta go on
Go on
Go on
Try and live life like I couldn't
How would you date get married and keep a marriage going? Um How do you make friends with everyone in the world? Um how do you make dogs like you?
How about asking questions that make sense to answer.
How about asking questions that have a specific point?
What stranger and what ledge? Some people need to be shocked into submission, some people need to be coddled.
I go by the seat of my pants in any given situation, because it DEPENDS. I would think that is blatantly obvious, don't you?
I'd be all like, "Hey bro, lemme buy you a beer and some Buffalo wings. Then if you still wanna jump, who am I to stop you?"
Tell them they've won a million dollars.
Yes
Stupid me I read that wrong...How? Just talk to them, distract them from what's bothering them so much. Make them laugh.
Hmmm get them talking about their interests, about themselves.
