He’d also like to know how one talks to a social worker, or whatever, in the United States, about suicidal feelings without being locked up.
He should call a suicide prevention hotline: there are lots of local ones and also:
Why does he feel like committing suicide? I can certainly understand it if he is terminally ill and in substantial physical pain–but not otherwise.
As to why not there is a good chance these feelings won’t last forever–and if he kills himself he will never be able to enjoy life.
Having been in your situation and with a bad ending, I would not cater to his worries about being locked up if he talks. Call 911.
Seriously.
He’s 57; he’s enjoyed his life.
That looks like another 20 to 30 years he could probably enjoy.
I am 56 and my friend killed himself at age 54 two years ago; it is not your call to make. What a horrible thing to say. I’m also a hospice volunteer and people in their 80s and beyond fight to live, believe me.
How does he talk to someone about suicide without being locked up? Seriously.
If you buy in to the idea that enjoyment is only in the past tense at age 57, you might not be the best person for him to be talking to.
If he tells a doctor about his thoughts, he won’t exacty be locked up. He will be asked to check himself into a hospital, where he will recieve treatment. It may be just the break in the action that he needs to prevent a regrettable decision. He won’t be in a prison, and there likely won’t even be bars on the windows.
Call 911 or any suicide hotline. Yes, he may run the risk of being put in a 72-hour hold, but if he is suicidal then why does he give a fuck about that?
Seriously.
So they do. So what?
They are not my friend. Nor are they relevant to the fucking OP.
Calling 911 or a suicide prevention hotline will not get one locked up. My sister worked on such hotline for years and never had any one locked up.
Fuck you. Fuck all of you. I’ve looked for a serious answer, and all I get is “too fucking bad, deal with what we want you to do”. So fuck you, fuck all of you.
Then why do you even fucking care to post a question here? Jesus H.Christ, no reason to get so hostile.
Nothing anyone is going to tell you is relevant to your fucking OP, unless you have lots of real-life mutual friends here.
I hope your friend will be OK.
Wow.
You’ve gotten concrete answers.
- Suicide hotline won’t lock him up
- Doctor or counselor might suggest he check himself in
- Even if he gets locked up, it’s a 72 hour hold
If he wants help it seems he wants to live, so a hold might actually serve that ultimate goal, even if it’s not what he thinks he wants.
You suggested that at 57 he’s lived a good life. Others are suggesting he could still have lots of good life ahead, so it maybe worth saving his life (which may require a hold after all).
The hotlines are anonymous 1-800 numbers. They don’t know who you are unless you tell them.
If he’s talking about it with you, he wants help. He wants to be talked out of it. If he was resolved to do it he wouldn’t let on.
he doesn’t want to get locked up. If the choice is locked up or dying, the latter is what he would choose.
He does want help. He doesn’t want help if getting locked up is a necessary prerequisite of getting help. What is so fucking difficult about understanding that?
I don’t know if this is a serious answer, but it’s a realistic one: if he has insurance, he won’t be in a county hellhole with schizophrenics rotating between the ward and the park. He’ll be transferred to a facility with a highly professional and motivated staff who may influence him to stay a few days longer and walk out with some new hope.
Starting to get the distinct impression that our OP is ‘asking for a friend’ in the more euphemistic sense.
Regardless, if ANYONE wishes to talk to someone about their suicidal thoughts and NOT GET LOCKED UP for it, the US national hotline is 1-800-273-8255. It is a CONFIDENTIAL and ANONYMOUS call. They will not press for details if you don’t wish to give them.
They can offer advice, sympathy, and trained theraputic help, and if you WANT TO, they can help you find local physical sources of help.
Good luck.