Thinking about suicide? Think about this! You've decided to do it. Life is impossible. Suicide is your way out.

Fine--but before you kill yourself consider these facts:

Suicide is not usually successful.

You think you know a way to guarantee

Ask the 25-year-old who tried to electrocute himself. He lived. But both his
arms are gone.

What about jumping?

Ask John. He used to be intelligent, with an engaging sense of humor. That
was before he leapt from a building. Now, he's brain-damaged and will always
need care. He staggers and has seizures. He lives in a fog.

But, worst of all, he KNOWS he used to be normal.

What about pills?

Ask the 12-year-old with extensive liver damage from an overdose. Have you
ever seen anyone die of liver damage? You turn yellow. It's a hard way to go.

What about a gun?

Ask the 24-year-old who shot himself in the head. Now he drags one leg, has a
useless arm and has no vision or hearing on one side. He lived through his
"foolproof" suicide.

You might too.

But...

Who will clean your blood off the carpet or scrape your brains from the ceiling? Commercial cleaning companies may refuse that job--but SOMEONE has to do it. Who will have to cut you down from where you hung yourself or identify your bloated body after you've drowned?

Your father?

Your mother?

Your wife?

Your son?

The carefully worded "loving" suicide note is of no help. Those who loved you
will NEVER completely recover. They'll feel regret and an unending pain.

Suicide is contagious. Look around your family. Look closely at the 4 year
old playing with his cars on the rug. Kill yourself tonight, and he may do it
ten years from now.

You DO have other choices. There are people who can help you through this
crisis. Call a hotline. Call a friend. Call your minister or priest. Call a
doctor or hospital. Call the police.

They will tell you that there's hope. Maybe you'll find it in the mail
tomorrow. Or in a phone call this weekend. But what you're seeking could be just a minute, a month, or a day away.

You say you don't want to be stopped? Still want to do it? Well, then, I may see you in the psychiatric ward later. And we'll work with whatever you have left. Suicide is selfish, don't do it....