On topic of suicide and im just curious… what would YOU do if you came across someone in the midst of a suicide attempt? They havent sucumbed yet and based on your quick surviellance of the situatiin, you may have to chance to intervene and potentially provide them with another day on this earth. You can decide who the person suiciding is whether it be a friend, family member, significant other.
With the above in mind, an interesting point would be that most people on here live with pain or suffering of some sort. Also bear in mind that oftentimes suicidal persons are placed in psychriactric treatment for an unknown duration.
For all intents and purposes, pretend you actually come across this and youre recording your reaction.
Would you:
A) Stop them and/or intervene and call 911?
B) Leave them be and wish them well. Check on them on occassion until they have passed then call for help?
C) Help them complete their wish by ensuring they dont fail.
D) Just leave. You didnt see anything.
E) Other
I personally and admittedly would likely do A.
Who else wants to weigh in?
9 comments
I would sit with them…. and talk. The rest, TBD
Certainly not A!
B. I would check in a lot, every 15-30 minutes or so. Or if they want someone with them, I’ll be there but I won’t assist in their suicide like C.
A 100%. If they’re still intent on it afterward that’s up to them, but in that situation and that moment, its not only them, its you as well. I have made more than a few attempts myself, and it wasn’t until the last one, where my heart was stopped for minutes, and I was revived that I actually started to understand the full implications and permanent nature. I still cringe every time I think about it and how close I came, and how If no one had been there, even 5 or ten minutes later, I wouldn’t be here right now. It wasn’t one of those mystical spiritual near death experiences either, it was nothing, complete and utter darkness. Like a dreamless sleep.
Now, terminal illness is a different conversation entirely….
You would rob them of their death?
What are you here for then?
How is it not only them but you in that situation?
I want you to understand that you don’t want to intervene with me.
Whoah hang on, it looks like I may have come across other than intended. In the post, the writer says we can imagine this person we come across as being a friend/family/significant other etc. And for this exercise I did. And also were talking coming across in real life.
Not just reading about someone’s suicide note online. I have never once tried to talk someone here out of what they were determined to do, because you are all strangers to me and I couldn’t possibly know what your reasoning is, how sound of mind you are, and most importantly, the ramifications of you dying, because you are for all intents and purposes, “some random person on the internet”
Now, as far as my family and friends go, I would most certainly intervene, having a clear background for everyone who is close enough to me to think about this kind of situation. People intervened on me, many times, and only now looking back am I greatful that they did, or I wouldn’t be here right now.
Oh and what I mean is, when someone kills themselves successfully, and then are discovered, the deed is already done, there’s nothing you can do, absolving you of any responsibility.
However, if you are in a position to save someone’s life, especially for this exercise,someone close to you, well, that’s a matter of your own internal morals and values I suppose, which is subjective to each person, I am only speaking to what I would, and have, do/done, barring any terminal illnesses
A. absolutely.