[2621] in Depressing_Thoughts
Re: suicidal thoughts
sdcfred@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (sdcfred@ATHENA.MIT.EDU)
Thu Dec 12 15:14:07 1991
Rich, you are too fatalistic.
Helping a suicidal person is always preferable to watching them kill
themselves. I think you have this conception that all truly suicidal
people kill themselves. This is not the case, and many of those who
recover volunteer time to help other suicidal people get over their
suicidal tendencies.
Although I never actually made an *actual* attempt on my own life, I had
a number of suicide scenarios plotted out during High School. There were
many times that I seriously considered implementing one of the plans.
Rarely did a week go by without me weighing the options. Luckily I was
strong enough to trust the right people and talk out my problems (and
I also got to watch my soccer team recover from a suicide, my favorite
teacher have her brother kill himself, and help two of my best friends deal
with their father's suicide). Thus, I recovered.
Now, I will admit that I was not a seriously "suicidal" individual, but I
would also like to point out that I found help. Life would have been a lot
easier for me if someonw else had realized what was happening and extended
help.
Finally, I do NOT EVER advocate just ignoring a suicidal person, for doing so
only deepens their depression and makes them feel even more like nobody
cares. Show them you care. It helps.
On a different note: I spent this weekend in the Med Center infirmary and
had a great experience. The nurses were really cool and very helpful.
There are definitely problems with the Med Center, but it is better than
the real hospital I stayed in when I had my apendectomy.
I think I like the Med Center a bit more now...
