My Friend Died of Suicide. Did He Go to Hell?

No, your friend did not go to hell.

The Catechism clearly states,

“We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives” (#2283).

We realize that those who take their own lives are often mentally impaired, and really think that their death will make things better for everyone. There are many good websites where we can educate ourselves about suicide: see http://www.afsp.org/ and http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/