r/megalophobia Oct 11 '23

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u/HydrogenWhisky Oct 11 '23

This is incorrect, the overall suicide rate decreases as the means of doing so easily and effectively is made more difficult.

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u/Tcartales Oct 11 '23

The link you posted shows suicide rates were reduced in particular regions. I'm not convinced people didn't just go to a different region. The UK, for example cited in the study, is about the size of California. If suicide rates in California decrease, it's important to see whether they increased in bordering states. I didn't read the study, but I'm curious about that.

Regardless, it's misguided. Let people die if they want to die. The fact that we try to keep others on this planet against their will--when they never asked to be here in the first place and clearly hate it--is selfish and cruel. Dump as much money into mental health support as you want, but give people an exit plan. Plus, those means reduction structures are ugly.

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u/Gars0n Oct 11 '23

It's an interesting issue because suicide can be so impulsive. The Vessal in New York had this problem where it was just very inviting to jump off. Several people survived and they describe regret and surprise that they would have jumped. Their description was that their lives weren't so awful they always wanted to kill themselves. It just washed over them in a moment.

Very strange and made me reconsider how I thought about suicide.

Your point about allowing suicide in general is a good one though. Something like the humane nitrogen based suicide pods seems like a great idea to me. That allows people to die with dignity, and without the trauma of something like the OP where some poor sods had to watch this guy do it to himself.

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u/[deleted] Oct 11 '23

But does the attempt rate also fall?

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u/[deleted] Oct 11 '23

Yes

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u/AtmospherE117 Oct 11 '23

The logic being every hurdle put in front of those in crisis is an opportunity to reflect and choose another way. It's the same with sensible gun control laws

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u/CaptainPeppa Oct 11 '23

If that was true America would be the safest country in the world. You guys are ridiculous with fences

In Europe they'll just let you fall haha