How would you dissuade someone from committing suicide?

[Tonimata]

We all feel down every once in a while, but there's points in life were life itself seems to lose meaning. At those points, there's many people who start feeling suicidal, and there are a few who actually manage to see it through. Yet, imagine, for a moment, that this someone is a valued friend of yours, that a good friend feels like his life isn't worth living anymore.
Would you stop him, and if so, how?

 

[Dragon_of_red]

I would play this song.

 

[BonsaiK]

I had a partner who did it. You can't stop someone who really wants to do it. There is no way.

Most people who talk about it don't do it though. The ones who really want to do it don't make a big dramatic emotional show of it, they just quietly get it over with one day. As I found out. You can't stop anyone from doing anything with their own body that they really want to do.

 

[Proarcher]

I can see the idea of this thread but man, I really don't want to picture my friends in such an ordeal, so I really don't know how I would. None of my friends are that weak.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Give him a damn good thrashing and tell him to buck up. We can't show weaknesses in front of the French you know.

On a serious note though, the best thing you can is just talk, hopefully they respect your opinion enough to know that killing themselves is the wrong thing to do.

 

[Xpwn3ntial]

This may sound bad, but I would let him.

 

[Outlaw Torn]

Tell them to do a flip. Worst case scenario, you get to see a flip. Best case scenario, you can always imagine they jumped.

 

[Eagle Est1986]

It's a bit late at that point really.
I would suggest just being a friend and taking them out, keep their mind off it for as long as possible.

 

[Hazy]

I wouldn't.

It's completely their choice, and if they aren't happy, I sure as hell won't keep them around on this Earth just because I don't want to lose a mate.

...BUT... If I didn't think they were going to go through with it? Take em out for a fun night of michief and mayhem.

 

[rabidmidget]

Tell them that if they do, I will piss on their corpse, nobody wants that

 

[ace_of_something]

Typically you just talk to them about what's upsetting them. Minimize the 'problem' and try to emphasize what they would leave behind or how it effects those around them.

 

[rossatdi]

Would you stop him, and if so, how?

I'd probably say "Is there nothing in this life that gives you any happiness, nor anyone who's happiness is derived from you?" If they say no, fuck it, let them jump.

 

[Inco]

Done that already.
Try and convince them with all means that there is a life worth living, that there is a hope for them to do something. Be it raise a child, getting lots of money (or just money in general), falling in love or even becoming powerful. You try to convince them of all that.

IF you can't do that, then you take them out, and try to make sure that they have a good time, distract them from their own reality that they believe is hurting them. Until they find something that they themselves find is worth living for.

Really, you can't stop someone committing suicide outright, they will just do it while you sleep if they are serious.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Give him a damn good thrashing and tell him to buck up. We can't show weaknesses in front of the French you know.

On a serious note though, the best thing you can is just talk, hopefully they respect your opinion enough to know that killing themselves is the wrong thing to do.

telling someone that is depressed to buck up is like telling a person with alziamers not to forget things. OP i dont want to think about it.

that's why the next bit said On a serious note though...

 

[slowpoke999]

I just heard someone who used to go to my school in Year 12 commited suicide, I finsihed Year 12 two months ago. And to anyone asking the question, was she unpopular/picked on, Dear fuck No, she was the only black chick in our grade, third-sixth hottest, and by far the hottest looking at our Graduation.

So yeah, it made me realize basically anyone can commit suicide.

Edit:Fuck I forgot to mention someone in Grade 10 almost hanged themselves in the boys bathrooms before being saved, he used his tie or belt I think. That would have been freaking terrible for the school. Of course I live in Australia, which I think is the home of the highest percentage of suicides in the world for teenagers.

 

[DoW Lowen]

I had a partner who did it. You can't stop someone who really wants to do it. There is no way.

Most people who talk about it don't do it though. The ones who really want to do it don't make a big dramatic emotional show of it, they just quietly get it over with one day. As I found out. You can't stop anyone from doing anything with their own body that they really want to do.

Actually that's not true. I look at a lot of clinical depression in my research and people will generally only want to commit suicide because it is an escape from a hopeless situation. For people who fail a suicide attempt, recover then lose their suicidal tendencies they actually say "I can't believe I ever considered it" despite only months prior saying "I can't imagine living any more".

People don't want to die. It's that simple.

Give them something, anything, even the idea of anything and they will hold onto as long as they can.

EDIT: Also I'm truly sorry to hear about your partner. My condolences.

 

[Davey Woo]

Radiator pants.

 

[likalaruku]

I'd convince them that commiting homicide would make them feel better, then they could just get exicuted latter.

 

[Adzma]

As someone who's come close to doing it, there really isn't anything one person can say. It's all in the mind of the suicidee.

I'd probably say "Is there nothing in this life that gives you any happiness, nor anyone who's happiness is derived from you?" If they say no, fuck it, let them jump.

This is what a lot of people fail to realise. The suicidee often feels that everyone else will be better off if they are gone. Trust me.