It's really hard to say. It depends on a person's circumstances. If someone is in unbearable pain and there isn't a cure, why would they stick around for a year even?
I think in terms of an assisted suicide programme, unless the circumstances are dire, there should be a six month waiting period in which time, the person is offered but not forced to accept help, to try to avoid any impulsive attempts. As a legalised, regulated 'service', I think that is important because it's hard to rule out the possibility of impulsive suicides.
But, it's so hard to say really. It kind of assumes that all people have the potential to 'recover'. Do they? I don't know. What if they themselves have lost all hope? Presumably, they are at that point if they feel sure they want to die. They must in fact be feeling fairly sure about it I imagine. So- then- how do you give a person back hope? What should they be doing in that year to improve their circumstances? If anything.
Is it more that they should ruminate on those thoughts for a year or that they ought to be taking action to improve their life? What if they don't want to do those things? Surely- if they don't take action, won't they just stay in the same place? So, now it becomes: not only do they have to stick around for a year. They have to try and 'recover'. Otherwise, what's the point? To check that they are sure maybe? It's tricky to slap stipulations on other people when you don't know their circumstances though.
I've had ideation to varying intensities for 34 years. Likely longer than a lot of people's entire lives on here! So, mine definitely won't be some impulsive decision- if I ever do it. Plenty of people here have had ideation for years. I'd hazzard a guess that long-term ideation is perhaps more common than impulsive atrempts. I'd love to know if that was the case.
I agree, it shouldn't be an impulsive decision but I expect we're all different in how we see life and our place in it. Insisting that we comply to certain time frames makes the assumption that: 1) Everyone can in fact 'recover'. 2) It will feel worth the effort to them to do so. 3) Life has a definite value. Otherwise- why would it matter? That's not to be confused with rights though. It does matter when people murder. But- if we can't 'murder' ourselves and we are conditioned over how long we should wait etc. who do our lives belong to?
Sure, we don't live in isolation. Our suicides will likely affect other people negatively. So yes- it needs to be something that is considered but- do we owe it to others to live a life we find intolerable- sonetimes even excruciatingly painful- just for them? Is that reasonable to ask of us?
Besides actually, I have a suspicion that most people who suicide have thought about it a lot in the past. I doubt there are all that many snap decisions and if there are- it's maybe because someone was backed into a corner. Some people have CTB to avoid prison or homelessness or illness. So- what's the answer? They should try out prison or homelessness or severe illness for a year?!! I don't think we always have to experience something to know we won't like it!
I do understand your point of view by the way but, it's tricky really to apply to people. Ultimately, there may be plenty of people where we don't really quite understand the severity they feel of their motive to CTB. No matter how long they have had ideation. But ultimately- we're not them. Do any of us have the right to judge what someone else feels and decides they aren't willing to cope with?
I think officially speaking ie. assisted suicide- yes, there needs to be gate keeping and rules just to make it sustainable. It won't last long if they start handing out Nembutal to healthy minors, no questions asked. But, on an individual basis via a DIY method- it's much harder because ultimately, it means we start to decide we know best for other people when really, we don't know at all. It's different if they're still open to being helped of course but- not all people are. If they are certain they want to CTB, that seems to imply they don't want help- so, then it becomes force unfortunately.
Sorry for the essay! I got carried away...