Posted by SLS on May 24, 2009, at 20:05:22
In reply to What would you tell a suicidal person?, posted by Maxime on May 24, 2009, at 15:53:50
> If you knew that someone was planning to end their life, what would you say to them?
I don't know. It depends on the details.
Are you having thoughts of suicide yourself, Maxime?
I might first tell them that autoeuthanasia is certainly their right to act on, but that I don't think it is time yet to go through with it. There are alternatives. I would stress that these suicidal episodes almost always pass, and that they already know this from experience. Things that seem overwhelming today, might not seem so a week from now. I might recommend that they first enter a hospitalization program to promote safety and help work through the crisis.
> Do you think it would make a difference?
For some people, perhaps not.
I think a sympathetic ear can go a long way. I also think it is important to convey how important they are to the people around them, and that they really do matter.
It is so hard to know what to say. Each person is unique and has a unique set of challenges. Each has a unique psychodynamic. I think it helps more to ask questions than to dictate answers.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:897446
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090524/msgs/897496.html