(posted here since there isn’t really an objective answer, and it potentially touches against medical or legal topics which may be jurisdiction dependent) This is not a solicitation for regulated professional advice.
First of all, let me make it very clear that I have NO intention of committing suicide. Period. Full Stop. End of line.
Now, years ago, I can recall a specific incident in college that invoved a police response during which I had a fantasy and temptation involving suicide, but I KNEW that I wouldn’t actually do it, and the temptation ended a few minutes later as the situation calmed down and it worked out for me, with no injuries and no charges.
Now, I was thinking about what would happen if I were at a doctor’s office or hospital sometime in the future and they decided to do a psychiatric screening for some reason (policy for all new patients, for example). If I was given a questionnaire that said “Have you ever thought of harming yourself?” and I, being a guy who has been told he is excessively honest, answer “yes”, assuming that it’s no big deal because it was years ago and I never intended to kill myself anyway, what is the likelyhood that I would be whisked away by white-coated men and put in a ward on observation? I’ve heard tell of “suicide watch” at a mental ward from someone who was in such a facility, but I’ve never experienced it and don’t want to. If I were faced with such a question, what would be a good way to avoid getting entangled with emergency psychiatric services and the whopping bill I’d get from them for my 48 hour emergency hold that it took them to confirm that I’m really not suicidal?