I've tried to avoid this thread because I knew if I read it, what I'd find. And a brief scan proved me correct: a complete lack of education and knowledge regarding suicide by some members of this message board.
So, here's a little quiz for you all... and consider that I did my graduate school final paper on suicide (similar to a dissertation, but not one), so I am eminently qualified to determine whether you are accurate or not:
First time posting in the thread as well - I got a few pages in then skipped to the end, so apologies if I repeat anything that's been said already. The below is my (partly-rambling) thoughts on the topic, some of which I'm forming as I write this, and aren't aimed at anyone in particular (though a few seem to richly deserve it).
1) What person is responsible for the suicide?
Tricky question. The 'simple' answer is that everyone is responsible for their own actions, so the suicidee is responsible. However... it occurs to me that suicide is a major symptom of fairly traumatic depression, which is a mental illness, and those who suffer from mental illnesses have diminished responsibilty, depending on the severity of the illness (and to be so depressed as to commit suicide indicates pretty severe depression, by my reckoning!). As such, responsibility would at the very least be shared by others - those who caused the depression to occur in the first place, and those who allowed it to continue and worsen to such a degree that the outcome was suicide, even after (apparently) a previous failed attempt. Legally, I'd imagine that the blow would fall hardest on parents/social workers/school/those with legal responsibilities for the person. Ethically, I'd also point the finger at the hundreds of people who unknowingly (or worse, deliberately) contributed to the depression.
2) What are the characteristics of a suicidal person?
At a guess... it depends. They could be obvious (clear mood swings, unexpected tears/outbursts, a shift in personality (especially from introvert to extravert or vice versa), self-harming) but I'd suspect that they could also be hidden entirely to the casual observer. I teach in a secondary school (age 11-18) in a large city in the UK, and several of our pupils are treated for one disorder or another - and it's not always obvious who.
3) How does that suicidal person feel?
Again, a pooly-educated guess, but... hopeless - and feeling as if they have no alternatives. Not seeing the point in continuing; no light at the end of the tunnel.
4) For one who completes a suicide, why would that person have not asked for help?
Because they don't believe it exists, or will work.
NB: I'd also differentiate between those who threaten suicide and those who are genuinely suicidal. The two groups most certainly overlap, but there are also indiviuals whom only one apply to - and by treating both groups as the same, we either alienate or coddle those who only fit into one (and try to score cheap points on debate forums, it seems).
NB2: For those who have never come across it, I'd strongly recomend watching the original play of
An Inspector Calls (there is a film adaption, but it's not as good - nor is the more jazzed up version of the play which has become famous. The wiki summary is fairly good, but nowhere near as pogniant!). It's shamelessly socialist at times, and no doubt some will use that to critique it's message, but it has some points to make on suicide as well. It's certainly influenced what I've written here.
Let's start there and see how you all do. .
How did I do?