Discussion WARNING: Writing A Suicide Note

[OhWellDerp321]

I've seen a lot of threads on this forum about trouble deciding whether to write a note or not, or what to write in the note.

But I feel like everyone should be warned of the consequences of writing a suicide note.

You should approach it with the thought that "what if your attempt fails?"

That's the only thing that matters. If your attempt is successful, you have nothing to worry about. You won't be there to know who read your note or who didn't. You won't know who is sad or not.

But if you're attempt is unsuccessful and people read your note, then there might be consequences that you did not expect.
This is particularly if you wrote anything along the lines of "you (a close family member) is what caused me to suicide".
If you fail, can you imagine how awkward it will be if you have to deal with this person again?
You weren't expecting to deal with them again obviously. But now you have to.

There is an exception to this, which is that the reason you want to ctb is not related to anyone. Then you may want to just write a note to ease the pain for the ones close to you to provide some closure.

The other important thing is also make sure you include what to do about your possessions, Especially money and pets.
Who do you want to give those things to? Its always better to let people know because people don't really know what you want to do with those things if you're gone. Especially pets. Please leave someone to take care of them. Whether or not people honor your wishes is up to them, But at least you did your part.
Also, you may want to include where you want to be buried if you care.

So to summarize.
1) Approach writing notes with the mindset that your attempt might fail. If the attempt fails, will it make things awkward or unbearable if someone read your note? If yes, maybe its best not to write those things in the note.
2) The exception to point number 1 is that your reason to ctb is not related to anyone. In this case, if you want to write a note just to provide some relief to the ones close to you, then that's fine.
3) Include what you want to do with your possessions after you pass. Who do you want to give them do? Do you want to donate it to charity? Etc....
Also, you may want to include where you want to be buried if you care.

 

[FishRain3469]

I have often thought about those same things , hoping and praying to God that I am successful when my time comes.

Thanks for sharing this, I wish you Nothing but the Best.

 

[locked*n*loaded]

Really, you need to have your desires about what to do with your possessions, money, pets, how/if you want to be buried, etc, memorialized in a will. Including those things in a suicide note is fine, but remember a suicide note bears no legal weight and, therefore, nothing in it must be followed.

 

[Tombs_in_your_eyes]

Really, you need to have your desires about what to do with your possessions, money, pets, how/if you want to be buried, etc, memorialized in a will. Including those things in a suicide note is fine, but remember a suicide note bears no legal weight and, therefore, nothing in it must be followed.

I agree - a will is ideal.

It will vary from country to country, but where I live, wills are surprisingly straightforward to make online. (Well, surprising to me as a naive 20 something, lol.) You can fill out an online form through a legal services company that takes maybe 10 minutes, they phone you to finalise the details, and then send you the finished will to sign. For me, it took all of two weeks from start to finish.

Some companies or charities may even let you write your will for free provided you do it at a particular time of year, or you leave some money for that charity in your will.

 

[OhWellDerp321]

I have often thought about those same things , hoping and praying to God that I am successful when my time comes.

Thanks for sharing this, I wish you Nothing but the Best.

Not planning to ctb yet. But close.

Really, you need to have your desires about what to do with your possessions, money, pets, how/if you want to be buried, etc, memorialized in a will. Including those things in a suicide note is fine, but remember a suicide note bears no legal weight and, therefore, nothing in it must be followed.

True. They don't have to follow it. But at least you said your part.

A will is much more risky if you are younger. Suspicions might arise. I believe you need at least a few witnesses to sign your will also. So it would raise eyebrows if all of the sudden you wanted to make a will.

 

[locked*n*loaded]

Not planning to ctb yet. But close.

True. They don't have to follow it. But at least you said your part.

A will is much more risky if you are younger. Suspicions might arise. I believe you need at least a few witnesses to sign your will also. So it would raise eyebrows if all of the sudden you wanted to make a will.

I didn't have any witnesses except people who worked at the attorney's office. I just don't have anyone to be witnesses. I don't think it looks all that sus anymore in this day and age.

 

[Kali_Yuga13]

Really, you need to have your desires about what to do with your possessions, money, pets, how/if you want to be buried, etc, memorialized in a will. Including those things in a suicide note is fine, but remember a suicide note bears no legal weight and, therefore, nothing in it must be followed.

Also worth mentioning is that police often hold onto suicide notes during the course of their investigation. I've heard of it taking months to return to oved one's and sometimes never especially if it's written to non-family members.

I didn't have any witnesses except people who worked at the attorney's office. I just don't have anyone to be witnesses. I don't think it looks all that sus anymore in this day and age.

Not planning to ctb yet. But close.

True. They don't have to follow it. But at least you said your part.

A will is much more risky if you are younger. Suspicions might arise. I believe you need at least a few witnesses to sign your will also. So it would raise eyebrows if all of the sudden you wanted to make a will.

I've had a notary at a UPS store serve as a witness for legal documents. It's no big deal. If you're young and really feel like you're going to be pressed with questions you can just say you plan to travel internationally, go sky diving, join the army, have a medical diagnosis etc.