If someone told you that they were going to commit suicide?
Discussion
What would you do?
The bloke in question is a mentally disabled chap who roams my town, he always comes into my shop to talk to the girls I have working here.
Today he came in and declared he was going to kill himself, I told him that was silly and he shouldn't. He got quite agitated and aggressive and said its his life and he'll do what he wants.
Seemed a bit out of character for him, I told the local PCSO who said he'll keep an eye out but didn't seem too bothered.... just don't fancy reading about it in the paper next week...
The bloke in question is a mentally disabled chap who roams my town, he always comes into my shop to talk to the girls I have working here.
Today he came in and declared he was going to kill himself, I told him that was silly and he shouldn't. He got quite agitated and aggressive and said its his life and he'll do what he wants.
Seemed a bit out of character for him, I told the local PCSO who said he'll keep an eye out but didn't seem too bothered.... just don't fancy reading about it in the paper next week...
I know this sounds callous, but often those who want to commit suicide don't go round advertising the fact, as strangely people try to stop them.
However, you've informed the local plod, that's really your duty finished.
When you say mentally ill, do you mean depressed or something else? Depressed - not so good, hassle PSCO, something else, perhaps not so much to worry about.
However, you've informed the local plod, that's really your duty finished.
When you say mentally ill, do you mean depressed or something else? Depressed - not so good, hassle PSCO, something else, perhaps not so much to worry about.
Oh thank god for that, I thought this was going to be one of those "my ex had phoned me and told me she's taken pills, what should I do, I know ,ill ask the internet!"
You've informed a relevant authority with links to mental health/social workers. The bloke not your responsibility any more than any other street dweller, so don't worry too much about it. Some people wake up first thing in the morning and "I'm going to top myself" is the first thing they say. It might be one of the few things that still gets a reaction of of their family/keyworkers.
You've informed a relevant authority with links to mental health/social workers. The bloke not your responsibility any more than any other street dweller, so don't worry too much about it. Some people wake up first thing in the morning and "I'm going to top myself" is the first thing they say. It might be one of the few things that still gets a reaction of of their family/keyworkers.
Sounds like you've done the best you can within reason.
On a more general note and to be fair if someone no matter who they are to me decided to tell me they were topping themselves I'd take some time out of my day and try and be a good ear. Its only cost me an hour and hopefully that small time has helped someone get through whatever is bothering them.
People who constantly threaten to do it wind me up a bit but I try to keep my thoughts out of it as a cry for help is a cry for help and you neevr know when you might need someone to be there to offer you some support.
On a more general note and to be fair if someone no matter who they are to me decided to tell me they were topping themselves I'd take some time out of my day and try and be a good ear. Its only cost me an hour and hopefully that small time has helped someone get through whatever is bothering them.
People who constantly threaten to do it wind me up a bit but I try to keep my thoughts out of it as a cry for help is a cry for help and you neevr know when you might need someone to be there to offer you some support.
I agree, he probably does intend to top himself, but at this stage he is shouting for help. When he finally does decide to do it, he won't tell anyone. Unfortunately I speak from experience there. I have absolutely zero faith in PCSOs, go and tell a proper warrant carrying police officer, not some amateur noddy who probably won't do anything.
Had it once with a girl when I was 14. From the off realised she was a bit 'messed up', to say the least. I got very close with her, yet still there was a lot I didn't really know. She'd tried to kill herself before, woke up in hospital. Talked her out of doing it one night. Well, talked. Just talked all night. Add in a hyper-psychotic pair of brothers allegedly, stuff was very, very confusing. In the end she shut herself off from me, can't really remember why, and I realised that there was nothing that I could really do. Probably the most intriguing person I've ever met. Found out a couple of years ago she was schizophrenic. There were some elements of the back story that were definitely real life, witnessed by me and verified by one of her friends (again, who in the end gave up with her 
), other elements I guess I'll never know whether they were in her head or actually happened. I don't really understand it and probably never will. The memories are quite hazy as well She's still kicking about, no idea how she's doing though.
), other elements I guess I'll never know whether they were in her head or actually happened. I don't really understand it and probably never will. The memories are quite hazy as well She's still kicking about, no idea how she's doing though.
Someone who is mentally disabled will have someone in local authority etc to look out for them, I worked teaching people with severe mental disabilities for sometime and was faced with this often. They will have a health practitioner who will be on the look out and I would report back to them any such comments and discussions. The case often is they are just looking for some attention but if they don't get that attention it can lead to bad things happening.
I used to run the helpline at Uni for a couple of years, and ran the training sessions on suicide (and rape).
Because it was university, we had some quite strict policies in place with how to react to such calls, but the long and tall of it was not to keep it to yourself, find out as much as possible, and pass it on to the authorities. It was the only thing we couldn't treat as strictly confidential.
The training sessions were about four hours long for this, so I can't be arsed to go in to too much detail, but in essence, you've done your bit by passing it on.
In any case, telling somebody you're going to do it is 999/1000 times a cry for help rather than an actual resolution. Your reaction alone would have been enough to prevent it, in that it sounds like you cared and let him know this.
HTH.
Because it was university, we had some quite strict policies in place with how to react to such calls, but the long and tall of it was not to keep it to yourself, find out as much as possible, and pass it on to the authorities. It was the only thing we couldn't treat as strictly confidential.
The training sessions were about four hours long for this, so I can't be arsed to go in to too much detail, but in essence, you've done your bit by passing it on.
In any case, telling somebody you're going to do it is 999/1000 times a cry for help rather than an actual resolution. Your reaction alone would have been enough to prevent it, in that it sounds like you cared and let him know this.
HTH.
Edited by maser_spyder on Thursday 12th May 21:57
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