Having a ready to go method as a way of numbing/masking depression?

[Doll Steak]

I recall once hearing about a controversial take in regards to mental health treatment, specifically suicidal ideation. Someone proposed that having a readily available method would be comforting to an individual. For example, knowing you could die anytime may make them happier, more productive, more care free, etc.

Now this would be a possibly risky form of mental help, a kind of a last stand as of course they could just die any time they want and out of impulsivity or sudden extreme shifts in mood.
This method of "treatment" would require very specific circumstances as well, not exactly a one size fits all kind of deal and maybe not even a real treatment in a technical sense.

It may even make suicidal ideation stronger if the individual is already at an extreme edge.

This proposition could also be applied to voluntary euthanasia, maybe that would make the world happier. Those who desire to leave can leave, those who are okay and want to stay can stay.



What do you think?

 

[SomewhatLoved]

I remember a while ago seeing a SaSu user in another thread talk about how he had a reliable method ready to go - pretty sure it was either SN protocol with all the bells and whistles (anxiolytic, antiemetic, etc) or a gun or something. He talked about how for him, having the "escape" or "backup" made him feel less trapped and like trying to live wasn't such a burden because in some way he didn't have to try like he always had to before. He was now choosing to, knowing that he could stop pretty much any day.

As a form of treatment or intervention I'm not really sure providing the means to CTB stands up, at least in a pro-life system. There is a social worker (Alexandre Baril) who proposed a "harm reduction" approach to suicide, where suicidal people would be given the option of assisted suicide, while also creating safe spaces for them and allowing them to express themselves and not have their thoughts treated as irrational or illegitimate. Essentially allowing (and to some extent I suppose you could argue, encouraging) suicide while surrounding the environment in which it takes place with one of acceptance, understanding, and support. I suppose if a harm reduction approach like this was systemically adopted, what you're talking about could have a valuable place in the system.

The issue is though, that anti-suicide and pro-life values seem to be so ingrained into western medical practice and societal views of most communities around the world that I doubt a shift like this is coming anytime soon. Don't forget the in some countries suicide is still illegal, and in many more it has only recently been decriminalized (1972 in Canada, for example).

 

[Doll Steak]

I remember a while ago seeing a SaSu user in another thread talk about how he had a reliable method ready to go - pretty sure it was either SN protocol with all the bells and whistles (anxiolytic, antiemetic, etc) or a gun or something. He talked about how for him, having the "escape" or "backup" made him feel less trapped and like trying to live wasn't such a burden because in some way he didn't have to try like he always had to before. He was now choosing to, knowing that he could stop pretty much any day.

As a form of treatment or intervention I'm not really sure providing the means to CTB stands up, at least in a pro-life system. There is a social worker (Alexandre Baril) who proposed a "harm reduction" approach to suicide, where suicidal people would be given the option of assisted suicide, while also creating safe spaces for them and allowing them to express themselves and not have their thoughts treated as irrational or illegitimate. Essentially allowing (and to some extent I suppose you could argue, encouraging) suicide while surrounding the environment in which it takes place with one of acceptance, understanding, and support. I suppose if a harm reduction approach like this was systemically adopted, what you're talking about could have a valuable place in the system.

Good comment and analyzation, much better than my ramble.

But yeah, that's what I'm getting at, having a method makes living seem less like a burden.

That social workers idea is kind of what I was imagining as well, providing legitimate treatment and a safe space while also letting one express free will and their own right to die. It sounds perfect for society, but unfortunately, like you said, likely rejected by the masses.

Thanks again for the comment bro.

 

[Wolf Girl]

There were some crazy experiments done before ethics were a big thing in science and they found that people feel as if they are capable of tolerating more pain if they knew they could stop it at any point. It's about having that panic button there. A lot of people use suicidal thoughts in general this way.

I don't think it's a good idea for preventing ctb because most of the research suggests that putting barriers between a suicidal person and lethal means decreases suicides. All of us here know that the moments where you're ready to take the leap are often fleeting and often pass if you dont have means available.

 

[hemlocked]

As an officially sanctioned way of helping people overcome their problems, a readily available way out seems very unlikely.

In my case though, in a life where I have had no possibility of control over my own fate for some years now, thoughts of suicide have given me a lot of comfort, sure. They have also taken up so much of my thought that they have caused their own problems.

However, since I've had two methods (Nitrogen, SN) ready to go and locked in a rented storage nobody knows about I have felt a surreal lightness of being. Not happy, but relieved at least.

 

[Ch4in3dcr0w]

The fault in the case of harm reduction is that suicidal tendecies or CTB in general is extremly private part of someone's life and not forced most suicidal people dont chose theraphy because of the fact that they already feel extremly hopeless. The fact that suicide is extremly private excludes going and talking about it to a therapist wich in turn excludes the chance of EAS. Assisted suicide in places that its legal mostly happens in eldery groups 60-80 like in netherlands and only in small cases in other age groups . I will end my little rant on a quote from a paper "Investigating the relationship between euthanasia and/or assisted suicide and rates of non-assisted suicide: systematic review": "Six studies met the inclusion criteria; four reported increases in overall rates of self-initiated death and, in some cases, increased non-assisted suicide. This increase in non-assisted suicide was mostly non-significant when sociodemographic factors were controlled for. Studies from Switzerland and Oregon reported elevated rates of self-initiated death among older women, consistent with higher rates of depressive illnesses in this population.". Much love

 

[thoughtitwouldbedif]

This is kinda how I view my method.

I'm using it as a crutch to bear the pain and sadness, because I know if it gets to be too unbearable I can just pull the plug myself. I'm scared that it seems arrogant to try and control the amount of pain I feel.

 

[ham and potatoes]

I find it comforting.
Its nice knowing if things get too bad, I've got a way out.