You're thinking through the viewpoint of a savior, this person didn't want to be saved. He shouldn't have felt guilt if he didn't save them but at some point we need to respect people's decision to opt out.
People saved from suicide often say they immediately regretted the choice and very rarely attempt it again. It’s a spontaneous act often driven by mental illness or desperation, it’s not generally a rational decision like physician-assisted suicide is.
Nine out of ten people who attempt suicide and survive will not go on to die by suicide at a later date. This has been well-established in the suicidology literature. A literature review (Owens 2002) summarized 90 studies that have followed over time people who have made suicide attempts that resulted in medical care. Approximately 7% (range: 5-11%) of attempters eventually died by suicide, approximately 23% reattempted nonfatally, and 70% had no further attempts.
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u/Badusernameguy2 Aug 13 '21
You're thinking through the viewpoint of a savior, this person didn't want to be saved. He shouldn't have felt guilt if he didn't save them but at some point we need to respect people's decision to opt out.