What counts as a suicide attempt?

[HappyForever?]

Do you just need to try to do something that might kill you ( and probably ending up not doing it ), or do you have to actually do it and fail to die?

 

[Bedrock48]

Do you just need to try to do something that might kill you ( and probably ending up not doing it ), or do you have to actually do it and fail to die?

Basically the only thing that matters in something 'counting' as a suicide attempt is your intention. If you went to a high bridge, looked over wanting to jump but aborted then that could count as a suicide attempt. If you took 10 paracetamol, in doing so you wanted to and intended to die then that would be a suicide attempt. If you took say SN but panicked and called for help, that would be a suicide attempt.

It's really up to you whether you want to consider something you did an attempt but anything done with that intention, even if you were uninjured, counts.

 

[Chinaski]

Basically the only thing that matters in something 'counting' as a suicide attempt is your intention. If you went to a high bridge, looked over wanting to jump but aborted then that could count as a suicide attempt. If you took 10 paracetamol, in doing so you wanted to and intended to die then that would be a suicide attempt. If you took say SN but panicked and called for help, that would be a suicide attempt.

It's really up to you whether you want to consider something you did an attempt but anything done with that intention, even if you were uninjured, counts.

I would argue that walking to a bridge wouldn't count tbh, nor would taking a non-lethal dose of a painkiller. It's a combination of meaningful act and intention.

 

[Bedrock48]

I would argue that walking to a bridge wouldn't count tbh, nor would taking a non-lethal dose of a painkiller. It's a combination of meaningful act and intention.

That's fair, we all have our opinions. With the painkiller one I'm talking in the sense that the person believed it would be enough, that they didn't have the information to know it wouldn't work. Therefore they believed it would work and was an attempt on their life.

I'd personally say intention is the biggest factor

 

[Chinaski]

That's fair, we all have our opinions. With the painkiller one I'm talking in the sense that the person believed it would be enough, that they didn't have the information to know it wouldn't work. Therefore they believed it would work and was an attempt on their life.

I'd personally say intention is the biggest factor

Yeah, agree on the latter point - but the intent means l could sit with a gun to my head for hours, but it doesn't become an attempt until l pull the trigger.

 

[HappyForever?]

Basically the only thing that matters in something 'counting' as a suicide attempt is your intention. If you went to a high bridge, looked over wanting to jump but aborted then that could count as a suicide attempt. If you took 10 paracetamol, in doing so you wanted to and intended to die then that would be a suicide attempt. If you took say SN but panicked and called for help, that would be a suicide attempt.

It's really up to you whether you want to consider something you did an attempt but anything done with that intention, even if you were uninjured, counts.

I would argue that walking to a bridge wouldn't count tbh, nor would taking a non-lethal dose of a painkiller. It's a combination of meaningful act and intention.

This is the difference between me having attempted 4 or 0 times. All 4 times I tried to jump off a building but chickened out.

 

[FractalTears]

try to do something that might kill

This i think, i see it as "i try something that might kill me"

 

[Interloper]

For the CDC (and presumably all the other foundations too? idk) it's

A suicide attempt is when someone harms themselves with any intent to end their life, but they do not die as a result of their actions.1​

Facts About Suicide

This page provides facts about suicide.

www.cdc.gov

With the reference leading to a document which I will look into further in a bit.

 

[Chinaski]

This i think, i see it as "i try something that might kill me"

But it has to have the *intention* to kill you. Many people try things that *might* kill them, such as driving drunk, extreme sports, whatever. That doesn't count as a suicide attempt.

 

[FuneralCry]

I personally believe that if the intent behind your actions is to die, then that is what counts as a suicide attempt.

 

[markimobzzdeasui]

Personally I believe it is a combination of intent,your mental and emotional state, after impact of the attempt and sometimes the awareness of the potency of the method.
I have seen and read some stories where the person knew before that it was a half assed attempt or not potent enough method, but the after effects were no less severe than actual attempts with planning.
Imo it falls under the same category that- Trauma is not what happens to you but trauma is what happens inside of you because of what happened to you.

 

[Chinaski]

I personally believe that if the intent behind your actions is to die, then that is what counts as a suicide attempt.

Not if it's something that will not feasibly cause death. If l decide I'm going to kill myself by chainsmoking cigarettes, that's not a meaningful suicide attempt.

 

[HappyForever?]

But it has to have the *intention* to kill you. Many people try things that *might* kill them, such as driving drunk, extreme sports, whatever. That doesn't count as a suicide attempt.

I personally believe that if the intent behind your actions is to die, then that is what counts as a suicide attempt.

I'm thinking about actions that are interrupted without any damage.
For example, if someone pours a lethal amount of N into a glass with the intention of drinking it, but decides to not do it at the last minute, does is count as an attempt?

 

[JoeyJoey]

Do you just need to try to do something that might kill you ( and probably ending up not doing it ), or do you have to actually do it and fail to die?

I think the word 'attempt' gives the answer

 

[Interloper]

I'm thinking about actions that are interrupted without any damage.
For example, if someone pours a lethal amount of N into a glass with the intention of drinking it, but decides to not do it at the last minute, does is count as an attempt?

I would say only after the N/SN is ingested, and they change their mind and call for help. Have to agree with the CDC.

 

[Bedrock48]

I would say only after the N/SN is ingested, and they change their mind and call for help. Have to agree with the CDC.

I'd say that would be an aborted attempt so it could 100% be counted as one if the individual wanted it to be.