basic first aid for suicide prevention

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According to my internist when I shared with him that I was having thoughts of suicide, it is a medical emergency to have thoughts of suicide combined with a present plan. And should be so treated. However, knowing how institutions work, if a person walks into an emergency room under these conditions, the emergency room personnel may take this seriously as they should. Or they may view it as just case load. Often people quickly lose sight of doing some good and just focus on petty inconvenience to themselves. I guess keep a journal and try and view it as the theater of the absurd. I don't know what else to recommend. A halfway decent doctor or nurse should take this very seriously, that's all I'll say.

The U.S. Army, perhaps surprisingly, seems to have pretty good information on suicide prevention and have been recognized for this.

I have not yet tried antidepressants, but they are kind of my ace in the hole. From what I have read, everyone's biochem is a little different and it is trial and error in a respectful way. And it typically takes four to eight weeks to tell. But the good news is that if one antidepressant doesn't work, there's a reasonable chance another might. And also, it's often important to phase down from the medication in a series of steps, even if it doesn't seem to be working. Just that your body may have gotten used to it.

Some psychiatrists are very much committed to one particular theory. Others take an approach they might describe as eclectic. I view it as just being a practical person and going with what works. Please realize that for depression or to receive an antidepressant, you can also go to a quote 'regular' doctor like an internist or family practitioner. Or, you can see a psychiatrist. And both medication and lifestyle changes need experimentation and observing feedback, I think a sense of tinkering and a certain kind of patience is needed, more so than being a genius. And this probably applies to both doctors and patients. The prime advantage of medication might be to give more energy to take a series of medium risks and see what works.

Please share the best information you have on suicide prevention.

A lot of empirical information exists about precursors to suicide and vulnerable populations - marginalised groups, abandoned children, social exclusion, bullying, sexual/physical/emotional abuse and neglect, isolated seniors...and many more. Treatment and attitudes to the suicidal which completely ignores external factors, personalising it to a "mental illness located solely within the person" is dangerous and suicide prevention has not been very effective because it fails at the first hurdle in not making this linkage explicit.

If you want to offer basic first aid to a suicidal person - the basic human attentions count: validate, support, comfort, be with, listen, provide for basic needs (food, clean clothes, care), and provide safety (take away guns etc, arrange for people to be available/keep in touch when you can't be there), don't go away and be unclear about whether you will come back or vague about when. Keep that specific and simple: "I will be here for you as long as this phase lasts, we can get through this together". If the person has been self-harming behind your back or starts to, call an ambulance and involve crisis services asap, whatever the person says.

About going to the ER. My experience - every time I've gone to the ER for suicide ideation + intent it's been treated seriously and immediately.
I often feel bad for going because it's like I'm taking away already stretched resources from someone who needs it more. One time when I asked the nurse if I could sit in a chair so someone else could use the bed, she said, "No, your condition is just as life-threatening as anyone else's." I've never forgotten that. If you feel your life is in immediate danger, don't hesitate to go to the ER.

Raleigh, I liked reading your post, and this certainly is the way things should be. My first thought was, that's the UK! But this really could be anywhere. There is good medical care everywhere, and there is poor medical care everywhere.

It does worry and bother me, that if things got bad for me and I walked into an emergency room, I might not he treated seriously, or I might not be treated respectfully.

I want to have a back-up plan, and keeping it simple, maybe something like this: 'I have heard it's important to come in if things get bad. Well, things right now are pretty bad, and I'm trying to do the right thing by coming in.'

Don't forget there are also suicide hotlines such as Lifeline which can be helpful to talk you down and give practical advice. I've found them really useful in the past if only to distract me enough to get to the ER.
At the ER I just tell them straight up, "I'm suicidal." And let them take it from there. It's easier for me that way and less confusing for the triage nurse.

WHY ! !!

Unless a person has some concrete proposals that will resolve the issues that have led to a person contemplating suicide then they should leave well alone.

In my view a great deal of thought, preparation and courage is needed to take one's own life, and the last thing you want is some moronic do-gooder to come along and save your life whilst doing nothing to help resolve your reasons why. The nett result is you have to go through the whole process a few days later.

I thoroughly detest this christian ethical crap that says absolutely everything has to be attempted to keep a person alive as long as possible, whether they want to or not. They seem to hold the view that God put us on this earth to suffer, and suffer you will, whether you like it or not.

I am reminded of my BiL who contracted lung cancer, and the peabrained medics made the last year of his life absolute hell, with their chemo, radiation, oncology, the bloody works. There was very little chance of him ever making a recovery, but the f*ckwits kept trying, but they weren't the one going through it all.

When I decide to call it quits, then I want that decision to stand. End of story.