SIGNED AGREEMENTS NOT TO ATTEMPT SUICIDE AGAIN

[lynnkay]

I am bipolar. I am 52 and have been bipolar for many years. I have a question or rather maybe a statement to make. I didn't know where to post it, other than here in the bipolar forum. In 2005, I did attempt suicide twice. And they were very serious attempts. On the first attempt, my stomach was pumped. I was in the hospital less than 24 hrs. The hospital had me sign an agreement, that I would not attempt again and just sent me on home. Just a short time later, I attempted suicide for the second time. Once again, my stomach was pumped, I was kept less than 24 hrs. and then sent home. No suicide agreement was signed by me and the hospital the second time.

Just about 2 weeks ago, my only sibling a brother attempted suicide. His stomach was pumped, kept less than 24 hrs. and he signed an agreement not to attempt again. My brother's attempt was a very serious attempt as well. My daughter just told me of someone she knew, that just tried to attempt suicide. It was the same pattern as me and my brother. Made stable, in the hospital less than a day and the agreement signed not to commit suicide again.

Personally, I think these agreements are dangerous within themselves. Anyone that attempts suicide, are not in their right state of minds at that time. I know as I have been there. I visited my brother at his home, after they released him from the hospital. He was not in his right state of mind. How can a hospital think a piece of paper, is going to prevent another suicide. Obviously they do not. Some years ago, my oldest son attempted suicide as well. Same thing happened. He was made stable, then sent home after signing an agreement not to attempt. Needless to say, he went home and immediately attempted suicide again. Only on the second attempt, my son was kept in the hospital for a number of days.

I just wonder how many people have signed such agreements, then sent home and were successful in their next attempt. I say the number would be rather high. These agreements seem to be common procedure. Frankly, I think these agreements are just medical professionals non-caring lazy ways of brushing off the mentally ill.

[CrzyBeautiful1]

That is so strange! I don't believe I have ever heard of these agreement where I'm from. When I od'd, I was in ICU for a few days, then someone came and talked to me about going to a psych hospital for inpatient. Suicide wasn't what I had in mind when I took the pills, I just got extremely overwhelmed and instead of taking 1 like I was prescribed for situations like that, I took the whole bottle.

These agreements definitely sound like a joke. I can't believe they would believe that it might actually work...unless they just don't care and simply do it to cover their ***. Thats about what it looks like to me. When I was in the ICU after my od, I was completely messed up the whole time I was there. I drank the charcoal stuff, but I guess the effect of the pills stayed in my system for a while, because when I went to the psych hospital (straight from the other hospital) I couldn't remember anything about my whole time in ICU, only bits and pieces. I didn't even realize how long I had been there. I'm sure half of the ppl who are signing these agreements aren't even sober.

[lynnkay]

I am so glad and relieved that you pulled through. As I am very glad me, my son and my brother pulled through. I understand you being overwhelmed and accidentally taking the pills.

These suicide agreements between patients and hospitals are being done in the state of Kentucky where me and my son live. They are also being done in the state of Ohio, where my brother is living. It just came to my mind, after my brother recentlly attempted suicide. The family rushed to Ohio to be with my brother after his attempt. He showed me the not to attempt suicide agreement. We visited him at his home, shortly after his release from the hospital. He was still very much out of it, from the drug he tried to overdose on. When I signed the one not to attempt suicide agreement in 2005, I was very much out of it, from the overdose of pills I took. Like you I hardly remember much of it. I do know I was sent home and pretty much slept for several days. The pills were that much still in my bloodstream. My son went through the same ordeal with the suicide agreement, too. I believe if my first attempt had of been taken more seriously in 2005, I would not have just shortly later attempted suicide again. The same for my son. My brother has yet to attempt again. But, if he were to, then that suicide agreement he signed, needs to be highly questioned. Two reknowned hospitals did  these agreements. One is the University of Kentucky, where my son encountered the signing of such an agreement. The other hospital is the University of Louisville, where I encountered such an agreement. I am not certain what hospital my brother was briefly in after his attempt. But, such an agreement was done in a Cincinnati area hospital.

I just find it totally appalling and horrific, that these type agreements are done. I find it very poor mental health care.

[Xila31]

My attempts were both unsuccessful. The first one I tried to shoot myself in the head, but the gun jammed. I later found out the gun was a b-b gun and probably would not have killed me but only injured me. The other attempt was with pills, but they made me sick and I threw them up at home. The first attempt one person was home, but they did nothing about what I had just done except be shocked. The second attempt I was home alone, so there is a good chance I would have succeeded as no one would have been home for around 7 hours. These were both when I was a teenager. However, I am haunted by the demon of suicide all the time. I have considered suicide often, but threaten it rarely, I tend to keep my demon to myself.

I agree when that demon is upon us we are not in any state of mind to sign an agreement. That is why I call it a demon. It is like being possessed. I don't believe signing a paper will save anyone, unless signing that paper is then used to get that person extra help. Counceling, a support group, or something. I mean, they don't take a drug addict or alcoholic and make them sign a paper and say "Do you promise not to take drugs or dink again?" No, they send them to rehab and the AA. I mean, I think if you are attempting suicide it is the biggest cry for help there is, personally. But so many people ignore it, brush it off, or tell you that you're just looking for attention. That is what causes death to happen.

When I was in high school a boy at my school was in a minor car accident after school. He went straight home, got his father's gun, and shot himself on the front lawn. He died. I always wonder if there had been someone that he told about how he was feeling and they just brushed him off. That boy could be alive right now.

[cowgirlnerd]

This agreement thing appears to be a joke to me.  I known when I attempted, I wasn't rational to enter into ANY agreement - needless to say, care what anyone thought about me breaking a promise.  I wanted relief and I wanted it period.  I wanted to stop hurting, wanting my family to stop having to deal with men and signing a piece of paper for a stranger sure as H*ll wouldn't have stopped me.

I know it's real - but whoever came up with that at a hospital doesn't have a CLUE!

Glad  everyone is a survivor.  .....including myself.  

[bastet56]

  Those agreements sound like some type of childish joke - no be a 'good' boy/girl and promise you will never do that again. What a joke. I have been put into lockup for less. If I survived a suicide attempt (not likely as I prefer guns to pills) I probably, if they let me go, would go out and do it again. How truly asinine!

[msmarlowe]

In 2006 I tried several times...I also signed the agreements but were after i was in the hospital for a couple of days. I think it also depends on the state that you live in. I live in Virginia and we have laws regarding suicide attempts which requires over night stays...

Recently I voiced that I was thinking about suicide and called my employee assistance program at work. They had me say verbal if I felt suicidal that i would call them back or go to the ER. To me I was like if I am going to do it I am not going to call....and say hey let you know i'm going to attempt to kill myself. Something that also bothers me that when I was suicidal they always asked if I wanted to harm someone else...I always explained to them that If i am looking to die...has nothing to do with anyone else and would never harm family or friends...Has anyone ever got ask about harming others?

[Xila31]

Yeah, last year I had an incident at work where I went in to work and yelled at one of my co-workers that I was going to commit suicide. Well, that was not such a good day. So they made me call the employee assistance program. The woman on the phone kept asking me what my plan was and if I was going to harm myself or others. I kept telling her that my plan would only go into action if certain things happened and that I wouldn't take anyone with me. I'm not violent that way. I punish myself only.

They didn't put me in a hospital or anything. They just sent me to a counselor. I felt so relieved like finally someone would help me. >.> Well, she only wanted me to draw pictures and talk. The only reason I'm getting help right now is because when I went in to get my depo shot last month I was in tons of physical pain and thought I was pregnant. When the tests came back negative my doctor started running tests on me and told me I might need a mammogram just to rule out breast cancer. Now, my mom died of breast cancer, so that is a huge trigger for me and I broke down in the office. I have literally passed out before thinking about cancer. So, he gave me the depression and bipolar tests and I tested positive for them both and when I went in for my follow up he put me on Lamotrigine.

Anyway, I know I'm rambling, but I think it is funny that threatening suicide didn't get me help but crying because I'm scared to die of cancer did. >.>

[CrzyBeautiful1]

I too have been asked if I intended on harming anyone. My counselor and pdoc have asked me this.

I'm really glad we all have survived. And xila, I'm really glad u r getting the help now that was needed.

[mags22]

wow, when I attempted suicide when I was severely depressed last year I was kept in the hospital for a month and then had to go to day treatment at the hospital 5 days a week for another month.  I feel very fortunate to live in Canada, and I really hope that president Obama does bring some serious health reforms to the states for you guys.  it sounds like it is desperately needed.

[Xila31]

Yes, health care reform is desperately needed. If I had to stay a month in the hospital I would probably use up all of my benefit for the whole year. Plus all the money I would pay out of pocket. I'm afraid all the time what will happen because our health insurance is so expensive yet I can't really use it because we are low income. So, I need to figure out how to make sure I can keep getting my meds. Plus it is hard to get dental and vision care, and usually psychiatric is not covered. Or you have to pay large co-pays or co-insurance. It is ridiculous.

Anyway, I'll stop. LOL.... >.>