If you were to come across someone about to jump to their death (or off themselves in general), would you do something or just walk on by?

[BridgeJumper]

Well, I kinda wish someone would dissuade me from jumping
And its hypocritical of me to 'save' someone against their will, but I will probably try to anyway because my instincts would kick in
And I do agree that some people only try to do it on impulse or as a statement and if they get the help they need, they have chances to recover
Unlike a fuck up like me

 

[noctiva]

Well, I kinda wish someone would dissuade me from jumping
And its hypocritical of me to 'save' someone against their will, but I will probably try to anyway because my instincts would kick in
And I do agree that some people only try to do it on impulse or as a statement and if they get the help they need, they have chances to recover
Unlike a fuck up like me

Be gentle with yourself, you deserve compassion and understanding as well, including from yourself <3

To contribute to the discussion: I would like to think that I would talk to them. I've never been in a situation like this, so I cannot say for certain. But I think janking someone from the bridge is as irresponsible as walking on, letting a person stand there with their inner struggle and turmoil. I can't really fathom how people walk on by, like the person wasn't there or like their struggle didn't mean anything. If we'd look after each other with more love and compassion, I think this planet would be a lot more habitable. We have a girl here at the supermarket, she sits there, wearing a purple superdry pullover. She has some drug problem, no idea what though, heroin isn't a big thing here, somehow we're more into buprenorphine. People just walk on by her, she must be seeing half a million legs everyday, but no faces. We have no common language, so I can't really talk to her, but I've learned that she likes multifruit juices and waffles (hypocritical me doesn't like to give money, and I think it's been at least 4 years since I've seen cash to be fair :X).

 

[19.]

I would attempt to stop them, but mainly because I would feel morally obligated to do so.

 

[Pan]

I would walk by and give a greeting.

 

[Alec]

I would try to talk to them but without trying to convince them of anything, I would just mainly listen and be there, maybe would hold their hand or hug them if they'd let me.

 

[BadDoctors]

I'd probably stop/talk to them them. I'm the kind of person who likes to get hurt by people, So an emotional connection with someone i don't know would help me feel better.

 

[Gratefulcorpse]

I

I feel conflicted about this. I think I would actually TRY to dissuade the person from jumping. And make up some bullshit about how "things can get better" and it's "only a passing thing" etc. It seems hypocritical of me. But but in some ways, some people actually do make it out of darkness. Whatever prompted them to attempt to jump from a location where they could easily be spotted just shrieks impulsiveness and a poorly thought out attempt to escape something that could actually be temporary. It's just a passing spur of the moment for some people and some intervention is required before they attempt something tragic.

I think the truly sad cases are those attempts that have thoroughly been examined, and patiently, methodically prepared and carried out. Almost like it was the "logical" thing to do. Like most of us on this site will do.

What say you?

I would watch if he/she accepts the blessing that is given to most people, CTB.

 

[S1mpleme]

I'll ask, if a person wants me to stay - I'll stay. First of all I'll listen to whatever the person wants to share. I won't lie, I don't want say that everything will be fine, I will be honest and of course if somebody wants my help then I'll help. I can't stop from suicide or help with it, I will not make decisions who has to live and who has to die, that's everyone's choice.

 

[angie]

I'll ask, if a person wants me to stay - I'll stay. First of all I'll listen to whatever the person wants to share. I won't lie, I don't want say that everything will be fine, I will be honest and of course if somebody wants my help then I'll help. I can't stop from suicide or help with it, I will not make decisions who has to live and who has to die, that's everyone's choice.

I would walk on as i know how hard it is to overcome si , so if they have got to the point of jumping i'm not going to derail there thoughts . what will happen will happen because they want it .

 

[S1mpleme]

I would walk on as i know how hard it is to overcome si , so if they have got to the point of jumping i'm not going to derail there thoughts . what will happen will happen because they want it .

Everyone is different as well as circumstances. Sometimes they don't want to die, just need attention, to talk. Sometimes scared or not sure, or even just need to calm down and think again. And of course those, who made final decision and has plan for the rest of life.

 

[Soulless_Angel]

Not read all teh replies, but my memories of trying to jump and people walking on by has started to play on my mind and come back. I was on a main road, I didn't personally give a shit, but 2 people who stopped, have since kept in touch with me, One has said he simply could not have carried on driving with out stopping, to him that would have apparently, meant giving up on a life in this world, his own life, even though he would have survived whatever it was I was going through.
Another told me, that to see me about to walk from a bridge made them stop and reflecton life like they had never before, made them sit and think ofa way of sorting their issues that did not resort to an end path
It has made me think if I came across someone on that path, I would simply stop and talk to them, nothing more, just say hello, I am here,Nothing more! because what more can one do?

 

[Meant2Die]

This literally happened in my imagination today. I was driving on a bridge, one I thought of as a potential jumping spot, and saw someone walking across. I thought to myself, "what would i do if suddenly he started to go for it?". In my mind I laughed and said to myself "Ah well Hello fellow CTBer, we're everywhere aren't we. I'll see you on the other side". But, then I quickly put myself in the position of actually facing him and then seeing him jump while standing nearby as if I was walking and stopped to help, and just felt fear and sadness for him. So I think if it did happen in real life I would try to talk to them, and listen, but in the end its their decision. I imagined that if I started talking about how i'm ready to CTB soon as well it would lead into a interesting conversation with me suggesting they use SN as a method instead. HA! How ironic.

 

[Despondent]

Conflicted.. I would want people to walk on by and let me be if that were me. So many of us on this forum say that we want our own decision to end our life if we don't want to deal or can't deal any more. I would want the person to have that decision as I would want the same. But at the same time, I would be empathetic and would try to convince them otherwise. I would want to give them an open ear and let them know that I am there, stranger or not.

 

[Moonicide]

I would talk to them. I wouldn't stop them from ending it, but I'd like to know what brought them to this point and if they're willing to spend a few minutes with me to share their story. People that don't want to die simply want to be heard and sometimes in that moment having someone sit there and listen to them is ultimately what stops them from ctbing. And even if they do decide to jump off, it would mean so much to me knowing they took that little bit of time they had left to sit with me and talk about it. That I could be a part of their final moments, and I hope in those final moments I would be able to provide some sort of warmth.

 

[Not_Quite_Dead_Yet]

Walk on by, 100%. Your life, your choice. Plus I simply do not have the psychic energy to deal F2F with someone else's pain. Also, isn't there a Chinese belief that if you save someone's life, you then take on responsibility for that person? I am not Chinese but just the thought bearing that kind of karmic burden makes me want to take to my fainting couch.