[2643] in Depressing_Thoughts
Re: suicidal thoughts
celine@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (celine@ATHENA.MIT.EDU)
Sun Dec 15 17:02:08 1991
Hmm. Interesting string here on suicide.
Several people have pointed out there is a difference between thinking about
suicide rationally (this is *not* an oxymoron), and considering it in a moment
(or day/week) of strong depression. This is an extremely important difference:
If your friend is one of the latter, my personal opinion is that outside
counciling, where competent (a question I leave open), is generally a good idea
(as people have pointed out, some individuals react negatively to outside
advice, as a friend of the suicidal person forced to judge, all you can so is
use your best judgement as to whether this applies to your friend).
Someone also pointed out that if the suicidal person is vocal about their
inclinations, this often is a cry for help. The person who thinks suicide is
a rational act, and has good arguments for their position, is more likely to
take the Nike attitude towards it, if they are truly convinced. If such a
person were to present arguments for discussion, however (as I did, in this
meeting, a few years ago), to refer them to counciling would be a serious
error, in my opinion.
I agree with the person who wrote:
...I personally have come to the conclusion that if reasoned throughly,
suicide is a perfectly justifiable "rational" conclusion.
The person contemplating suicide as a result of emotional concerns doesn't
qualify here.
One more thing: I noticed a couple of people said they'd seek counciling for
any friend considering suicide, which I take it includes the "rational" kind.
This seems a bit selfish. Of course, suicide is selfish, so there's grounds
for such counter-selfishness, I guess...
