How likely is it that someone with multiple suicide attempts will eventually be successful?

One meta study by Harvard Public Health analyzed long term data from over 90 reports in 2004 :
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/means-matter/means-matter/survival/

Statistically it looks like this -

Approximately 7% (range: 5–11%) of attempters eventually died by suicide, approximately 23% reattempted nonfatally, and 70% had no further attempts.

So hang in Queen. What these numbers really show is that with the right help and enough time, most people find good reasons to live.

I am hanging in. Slowly. I am getting there.

I will admit i did ask partially out of fear. My attempts were fully impulsive, I didn’t actually want to die or anything. My brain scares me with how fast my emotions turn bleak

@SergeantQueen – Yeah. I know what you mean.

Sooner or later almost everyone does something to trash themselves, without really knowing why. It’s like we have to go there, to keep from going there.

I just know that for me, when some of my feelings ran too far ahead of my thinking mind, I was lucky enough to find people who could help.

It made a difference.

Good luck.

The odds are in your favour especially if you can recognise the warning signs and then take steps to deal with the crisis.

Call your doctor, therapist, or a suicide hotline right away if you feel suicidal. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline take calls 24/7 on 1–800-273–8255

Ask for help from friends or family members.

Stay safe until you can get help.

Remember that mood episodes are temporary and suicidal thoughts are a symptom of your condition. You will feel better with time.

Take care SergeantQueen and you will make it.

Stop attempting suicide if you don’t want to die.

Wanting to get out of the pain of life is completely different than wanting to die. If you don’t want to die then you have to stop. It sounds like you are reaching a point that you are not going to try it again.

You are getting older now and will hopefully be more logical and less impulsive even if your brain is working against you sometimes.

Call the suicide hotline provided above if you need help on a really bad day.

Suicide is permanent. Having trouble dealing with a current life situation is temporary.

Pay attention to what is making you sad and in pain and take steps to not fall into that circumstance again. Find things to look forward to and plan them. Planning and anticipating the joyful things is part of joy and hope for the future. I know that’s really difficult when anxious or depressed.

Give yourself some time. I usually want to wallow in my sadness for a while before I can find the strength to come out of it. As I get older my ability to get out of it is much better. That is true in study after study regarding emotional pain and happiness. An older brain statistically feels less emotional pain. We learn the patterns and how to cope. We experience more joy as we age usually. You have to get there to enjoy it.

@JLeslie That is absolutely unhelpful and could potentially be harmful to a person who might be experiencing suicidality. Please refrain from ever answering a question about suicide.

Dear Queen, thank you for your candid questions about suicide. Talking about it breaks the stigma we have about the subject. Talking about it helps us help those who are caught in its desperate hands.

You’ve come far in the short time you’ve been here. I believe you might benefit by journaling. Write in a journal everything you want to. There are no taboo subjects. Write everything no matter how weird or how dark. Keep it in a very safe place where no one will read it. It is strictly for you. Someday, share it with a therapist. If you can get a therapist now, wonderful! If not, journaling is a good start.

Hugs to you. Good luck.

@Hawaii_Jake Then flag it! When I had suicidal thoughts what helped me was realizing I did not want to die but that it was out of desperation from feeling totally horrible. I needed help!

I needed to realize feeling suicidal was trying to get away from how I felt and not moving towards what I wanted. It was someone who bluntly told me that which created an epiphany for me and changed my life.

By the way neither of us answered the OP’s question so probably it should all be deleted.

^@JLoon did. She gave statistics.

Not likely. If a person is serious about offing themselves, they get it done.

@chyna Yes, I know. Is that how it works in general? Only one answer has to directly answer the actual question?

@JLeslie Oops, I read that as “none of us answered the question” instead of neither of us.

@chyna No problem. I did write “all be deleted,” which I meant my answers and HJ’s specifically, but I see how reading it quickly you could miss that I wrote neither.

Can we move this to social because I dont anything deleted

Also, IMO, people who are REALLY serious don’t give any indications. If one gives any indication, then they aren’t serious and want to be saved.

^That is dangerous, wrong information.

Anyone in touch with @SergeantQueen? I’d like to know she’s ok.

@JLeslie – Not in touch with her, but her profile calendar says she logged in today 9/17.

She’s been pretty clear that things are hard for her sometimes, but I think she’ll be alright.

I’m here.

@SergeantQueen – Awright. Stay safe & be well.

@SergeantQueen I’m happy to see you. :)