Our family has survived somewhere around 30 suicide attempts connected with the rape of the children and a death of a grandchild/deep depression. What I have learned is that most people who attempt suicide and are NOT successful AND who keep trying will succeed at some point. It's kind of like "death by default". They are playing with it, often trying different methods.
We've had the same young man try hanging, cutting, overdose by insulin (an entire vial while in police custody), cutting a central line--once at home and once in the hospital, running into traffic, and suffocation. He's never been successful and doctors have helped us see that he's crying out from his pain and seeking the attention he needs at that moment. All of his attempts were in places he would likely be stopped or thwarted. It has been pointed out that if he truly wanted to be successful, he could be, quite easily. We've also been cautioned to take each and every attempt very seriously as people can misgauge things and truly die when they are merely seeking help. We've had more than a few close calls with him that left us reeling....the what ifs?
I wonder if this was another attempt in a series of attempts for this man. If so, maybe he was secretly hoping that he would be discovered in time. Wouldn't his body have fallen to the floor when he lost consciousness? Others would have pushed in the door to help. Maybe that's what his misguided plan was and he somehow misjudged.
Other attempts we've dealt with were actually far more possibly lethal. We had a teen, who was not a victim, take a massive overdose of Tylenol. I was running through the house, late for an appt, and called her out of her room to correct her (using my sewing scissors for cutting paper, yet again), when I noticed her slurring her words. Within seconds, I realized that we had a horrible crisis on our hands. Luckily we lived only two blocks from the hospital and my husband just scooped her up and ran with her to the car. Within less than a minute, she was in the ER and spent four days in the ICU with liver damage. That one was close. Had I not noticed my scissors on the table next to the origami paper, we might have lost her. I can hardly think about.
Another was when a despondent and grieving young father attempted an overdose to join his recently passed newborn daughter. Had he not responded oddly to the text of a friend, who immediately alerted us, we would have never known. We called 911 and met the EMTs at his house. He had thoroughly researched the amount of meds necessary and he'd followed through. He had also added in alcohol. He was held for 7 days for observation and he was clear that his intent was to die. He was very nearly successful.
I've learned that suicidal ideations and attempts can take many forms. Families and friends need to pay close attention and seek help each and every time there's a danger. Someone who is suicidal or homicidal jumps to the front of the line in triage.
For me, there's still a lot of questions about this poor man. Why at LAX? Was he traveling or was he local? Was his intent to truly die? If so, why in a public place with a high possibility of being discovered? If it was a suicidal "outcry", what went wrong?
I guess this really reinforces what we've been taught. Any attempt can be successful.
