What would you do if you walked in on someone in the last moments before they hanged themselves?

[wait-bus-stop]

What would you do if you walked in on someone in the last moments before they hanged themselves?

I am not sure what I would do. I hope I would walk away and let them carry out their decision.

 

[LocalAngel]

I would likely, instinctively, want to stop them. Then i would freeze in place. I'm not sure what i would do from that point.

 

[sunsetting]

"Oh! Sorry for interrupting you, carry on."

I wouldn't want to be a hypocrite and tell that person to not do it but if any assistance was requested I'd be happy to help.(as in helping with their well being, etc... not gonna help the person to die as I wouldn't want to be charged with murder afterwards)

 

[cookiecuttersarerad]

Really don't think I could just walk away.. I'd probably talk to them, only if they wanted to though. I don't know if, even if I wanted to, I could change their mind if they were actually rational and determined to do it. I'm incredibly sentimental for writing this but there's just something so symbolic about talking to someone for the very last time before they leave. I'd probably ask them a question or two, wish them my best wishes, my apologies, tear up and leave the room to cry about how badly the world fails us, you know? But also rationally thinking about it I'd probably be glad for them too. I probably wouldn't tell anyone we got to talk that day, there's something personal about it that I'd rather just hold to myself. But for sure at my time to leave I'd definitely think about it

 

[TapeMachine]

Well, I did walk in on someone doing that. Many years ago.

It was my husband at the time, and he was very drunk and emotional, impulsive not prepared.

We'd been arguing, and he'd even made a blatant statement moments before like "I'm going to hang myself." I think he wanted to scare me more than anything; it was more of a threat than a sincere goodbye.

And I knew he was stronger than me because he'd beaten me (physically abused me) a few times prior to this incident. I was terrified and felt like I'd never be able to help him, and if he was only doing this to jab at me, then was all of this my fault?

So I called the police.

 

[enditplz]

If it was a stranger, I think I would probably freeze from shock and not do anything - maybe call 911. If it was someone I knew and felt at least neutral towards, I would instinctively stop them. If it was someone I knew and didn't like, I'd just back away and pretend I didn't see anything.

 

[cookiecuttersarerad]

Really don't think I could just walk away.. I'd probably talk to them, only if they wanted to though. I don't know if, even if I wanted to, I could change their mind if they were actually rational and determined to do it. I'm incredibly sentimental for writing this but there's just something so symbolic about talking to someone for the very last time before they leave. I'd probably ask them a question or two, wish them my best wishes, my apologies, tear up and leave the room to cry about how badly the world fails us, you know? But also rationally thinking about it I'd probably be glad for them too. I probably wouldn't tell anyone we got to talk that day, there's something personal about it that I'd rather just hold to myself. But for sure at my time to leave I'd definitely think about it

But this really depends on the situation, too. If someone's having a depressive episode or doing it impulsively, without putting much thought or thinking soberly, naturally I'd do my best to prevent it. Sorry if i accidentally ruin it and they were actually prepared or something but hey

 

[Ernest1964]

I would ask ONE question: Have you thoroughly thought this decision through?

 

[Ghostofthepast]

I didn't walk in but was forced to watch my best friend hang himself and yea it fucks you up

 

[FuneralCry]

If someone is trying to end their own existence, it's simply nothing to do with me. Nobody else has any right to interfere in a suicide attempt, and it would be so incredibly wrong to do so, and the reality is that if someone wishes to ctb, that is their decision and it should be respected. Stopping a suicide attempt is only ever prolonging suffering, and it disgusts me the thought of other people interfering with suicide attempts when the person clearly doesn't want to be here. No matter what other people say, nobody is obligated to exist.

 

[LocalAngel]

If someone is trying to end their own existence, it's simply nothing to do with me. Nobody else has any right to interfere in a suicide attempt, and it would be so incredibly wrong to do so, and the reality is that if someone wishes to ctb, that is their decision and it should be respected. Stopping a suicide attempt is only ever prolonging suffering, and it disgusts me the thought of other people interfering with suicide attempts when the person clearly doesn't want to be here. No matter what other people say, nobody is obligated to exist.

I understand the sentiment, however i did manage to stop an ex from CTB, purely because they posted publicly about it online. They hated that i broke up with them, and hated that i stopped them. 4 years later, they're in a different relationship and no longer suicidal- they seem genuinely happy. Good for them i suppose.

Just to clarify, if i didn't do this, the alternative would be everlasting guilt, trauma, and the inability to stop thinking about if i did the right thing or not. But yeah. At least they actually feel better now. not quite sure how

 

[Dot]

I.m.o autnmy gs bth wys

Sre if sme1 wnts2 ctb thn tht = thr persnl chce bt also if a ctb = puttng anothr persn in a positn tht thy dd nt sgn up fr thn d/ nt b surprsd @ hw thy rspond

If a persn hs bn pt in2 a stuatn w/o warnng whre thr actns or lck of actns wll affct th/ outcme thn thy r allowd 2 prevnt thmslves becomng trmatisd

I.m.o agn ths = whre propr euthnsia polcies wld hlp 2 prevnt thse knds of stuatns bcse = wld prevnt 3rd prties frm b-ing pt in tht positn

If slf wlk in on an attmpt thn slf wll alwys cll fr hlp bcse am nt persnlly willng 2 b burdned wth th/ 'wht if' in cse th/ attmpt ws implsve etc

If am evr persnlly abl 2 attmpt thn slf wll eithr mke sre tht othrs r nt involvd or wll accpt n.e outcme if am discovrd

 

[botch3d]

It depends who …

 

[Forever Sleep]

I'd ask them if they wanted to talk. I'd probably swear first though- out of shock- 'oh shit'- or- something similar. I hope I'd say that I wasn't going to try and stop them if it was what they really wanted- I'd say that I felt that way too and I think we ought to respect one another's choice. Still- I would say- if you want to talk to me- I'm here and you can tell me anything and I will promise not to judge and it will go no further. Of course- that would be difficult if they confessed some sort of dreadful crime but I think for most people- they likely haven't committed a crime.

 

[blahblah123]

I dont think there's much wrong with being a hypocrite. We all are in some way and as long as you dont deny it that's pretty much the best you can do in some situations. I personally believe that people have the right to do with their lives as they please, including ending it, but when I walked into my sister's room and saw 3 notes, one for family, one for friends, and one for her ex, there was nothing in the world that could have stopped me from getting to her. She had already left the house and gone to work at the time and I've never had the courage to ask what excactly her plan was.That was a couple years ago now and today she's in treatment and doing much better.

 

[letmegetout]

I didn't walk in but was forced to watch my best friend hang himself and yea it fucks you up

Why were you forced to?

 

[Ghostofthepast]

Why were you forced to?

He invinted me over knocked me out and tied me up he did t want to go alone but didn't want me to do it with him

 

[Antiquated]

Can't say for sure but there is this thing called "duty to rescue" and I'd rather not be prosecuted/go to jail so prob best to call emergencies...

 

[SeeminglyFine]

If it was my friend id ask him to wait for me to join him and shot down some whisky shots while hoping theres nothing after death.
Just in case if theres incarnation maybe we would be twins if we double suicide

It would probably apply in other cases too

If its some stranger i ask if they wanna talk, if not i would probably walk away

 

[kanashikunaika]

I would ask them "are you sure?" and if they were willing to talk about it, I would listen.
And if they're still wanting to do it, my next question is "do you want to be alone?" cause I don't think a lot of people really want to die alone. If they were pushed to this point, I think they'd want their last moments to be a little warm.

 

[d3j3ct3dl0s3r05]

I would ask them "are you sure?" and if they were willing to talk about it, I would listen.
And if they're still wanting to do it, my next question is "do you want to be alone?" cause I don't think a lot of people really want to die alone. If they were pushed to this point, I think they'd want their last moments to be a little warm.

Yeah this sounds like what I'd do in an ideal situation, however, I'm still a highly emotional lifeform so I feel like I'd instinctively try to stop them. Likely wouldn't call police though and would just try to be a source of comfort myself though

 

[DeathSleep]

I would apologize and walk back out as though I was never there. Unless they wanted to talk. I'd be a hypocrite to stop them tho and im not getting charged with murder to assist them. I feel like I should say more when I walk in but I don't know what else I should say.

 

[Springore]

They probably wouldn't want to, but I'd try to get to know their story. It sucks that so many of us are forced to suffer and die alone, so I'd want them to know that they really aren't, even if they feel like they are. Also im just a nosy guy. I would never try to stop someone though. Suicide is a freedom everyone deserves.