How would you dissuade someone from committing suicide?

[jboking]

This surprisingly worked(or not surprisingly if your a smart person or have ever been suicidal): My friend who I had known since grade school was going through a rough patch around the age of 17. We'd see each other at school and game online. I had been over to his house a few times for parties and other such assorted things. One day I go home from school and log on to steam. I message him and ask him how he's feeling. He says "Not so great man. I'm..just...I'm just thinking about quitting it all." So I responded with, "Hey, I'm gonna come over and hang out man, that okay?" "Sure"

I got to his room and there was a gun on his computer table(extremely unusual, didn't even know he owned one). I didn't bring it up. We just hung out and talked about games, movies, any bullcrap that I could come up with to keep his mind off of it. I hung out until about 9pm when he was feeling tired and he went to bed. So he went to shower and I said I was gonna head out. I unloaded his gun before I left just for safeties sake. I don't know why I did it. I'm sure he has more bullets in the house if he has the gun. Maybe if he had to take the time to go get them he might change his mind.

TL;DR Just talk to them. Not even about death or "How good they've got it compared to ____"(that's actually a really good way to get them to resent you and do it anyway), just talk. More importantly, let them talk. Listen.

Heh man dont jump
youve got bioshock 2
aliens versus predator
MAG
battlefield bad company 2
and halo reach to look foward to!

"...And after hearing the future of the games industry, I jumped."

[sup][sup][sup]Sorry, I had to do it. I actually like some of those games.[/sup][/sup][/sup]

 

[GrinningManiac]

Firstly, I would ask them to tell me what the problem is. By talking to another person, you come to realise that the problem is actually quite miniscule and/or trivial (Or, if it is fairly serious, usually correctable or easy enough to walk away from)

Secondly, I'd tell them about all the wonderful things I've seen in life, and ask them what they've seen. Hopefully I'd bring in some nostalgia towards the "Living" side of the argument.

Then I'd use fear to make them realise that, for all they know about the Other Side, Death might not even solve their problems or end them in any way, and if religion is correct, most of them look unfavourably on the Suicider.

Then I'd make them feel guilty by being selfish enough to kill themselves and force their family/friends/aquaintances to deal with the emotional and psyichal aftermath of their actions.


On a similar note, did anyone see that episodes in the new Heroes season (I'm watching to make sure it dies honourably and with enough redeption to re-earn my respect) where Hiro repetedly goes back in time to stop events happening that causes a chap to loose his job and commit suicide. Hiro ended up sabotaging the man's past attempts to commit the drunken mistake around 85 times, and he looks EXHAUSTED at the end. "You must really hate this job!". It's actually one of the very few times Hiro has actually been funny as of late

 

[bobknowsall]

None of my friends are that weak.

I resent this statement. Are the suicidal any weaker than the rest of us?

By the way, welcome to The Escapist.

 

[SextusMaximus]

I have a good friend who I could see as a suicidal person in future, very sad case I'm afraid. I wouldn't be able to dissuade them.

 

[TheCrayonKeeper]

I'd tell 'em ta man up...unless its a girl, then you've had it

 

[Pegghead]

Well if it's one of my friends I'd probably remind them of all the good times we've had together and the good times we'll continue to have. I'd remind them that they literally have their entire life ahead of them and that I'll always be there to help them when they fall.

 

[Kathinka]

without having read any of the above, strictly at toppic title:

"DON'T DO IT! YOUR SCORE WILL GO DOWN BY ONE!"

;P

 

[Joa_Belgium]

Lol, if someone is serious about suicide. They generally dont tell people. Generally if they do tell its usually a cry fo attention. I usually just tell them to hurry up and do it and that stops them because they realise I'm just an insensitive git when it comes to people being too weak to handle life. If you cant take life then take your own life so i dont have to listen to you whining.

Yes, i AM a heartless bastard =)

Most people who go around telling they want to commit suicide, are indeed just people acting dramatic, looking for attention. But there are exceptions.

For instance: we had this woman in our town here and one day she entered a local pub where she started shouting that she was going to end her life. The pub owner got fed up with her and told her to do so and stop acting. Thirty minutes later, she threw herself under a train. So even if someone's faking it, do not feed that thought.

OP: I'd take them out for a day with some friends to have some fun. Put their minds off of those thoughts. I could never tell them that I respect their decision and say farewell. That's as if you're affirming that their choice is the right one. Which isn't.

 

[The Warden]

"DO IT ******!"
Oh.
Oh wait, no...
"DON'T DO IT, ******!"?