Suicide and mental health

Using a "throwaway" account, since I don't want this comment tied to my main account. But I also think the "elephant in the room" issues this video brings up and attempts to address are so damn important that I didn't feel right not commenting at all.

Ooof! What an incredibly well done and powerful video. One that hit incredibly close to home for me too, as a multiple suicide attempts survivor as well. The part where he briefly touched on the horrible conditions and dehumanizing treatment of people in State-run psychiatric facilities after failed suicide attempts especially dredged up some pretty dark memories of my own. That topic in particular is something that really isn't discussed nearly enough!

From a practical and legal liability perspective, I understand why patients need to be stripped naked and visually inspected to make sure they aren't somehow smuggling in a razor blade or anything else they can use to kill themselves while under the State's care. I also understand why all the bathroom doors and stall doors are removed, so someone can't sneak off to the bathroom to kill themselves. I "understand" all the measures the State take in this regard, but in my opinion those measures when combined with the clinical coldness of the rest of the "treatment" ends up just making things worse in the long run. When what would likely help suicide attempt survivors the most is honestly just a hug and some genuine human connection, warmth and empathy, what they instead receive is being treated like a subhuman and thrown in to an completely uncaring clinical system where all the human contact they experience is cold, calculated, clinical and 100% detached (emotionally and physically). And in my experience, the only way to get out of that system once trapped inside it, is not to actually get better in any way, shape or form, but instead by simply learning to hide your true feelings and figuring out all the "right" words to say so they can release you.

And until someone experiences dehumanizing treatment themselves, first hand (be it in prison or a psych facility), I honestly don't think they can truly understand how deeply damaging to your psyche it is to experience. It was the worst experience of my life and fundamentally altered my perception, not only of myself but of others as well, and not in a good way. And the greatest irony of all about it is that the only thing being under State care after my suicide attempt accomplished was to ensure that if/when there is a next suicide attempt by myself, I will damn sure make 100% certain it's successful that time since the repercussions of failing are that undesirable to ever wish to experience again.

"I understand" and "you're not necessarily bad or broken inside just because [you're suicidal]" was the perfect way to end the video, and something that took me a long time to realize and come to terms with myself. Keep safe and stay strong...