I think people would be less suicidal if they were allowed to talk about being suicidal without risk of being sent to the Torture Dungeon
If you talk about being suicidal with your therapist, they should know you want their help - or you would be dead already! A good safety plan helps more often than involuntary commitment. But let’s look at specifics in most US states.
To break confidentiality and call crisis services, your therapist needs to hear you express a plan, means, and intent. I think of this a bit like the board game Clue. “I want to kill myself” is suicidal ideation but not suicidal intent. Your therapist probably hears this all the time. “I want to shoot myself” is also ideation unless ☝️ you have plans to (a) get a gun and (b) use it. Mr. Green in the library with the candle stick - after Mrs. Peach moves in with Professor Plum. Even if you have a specific plan, your therapist may decide it makes the most sense to try to talk you out of it themself.
In most places, an involuntary hold can’t exceed 72 hours. But you can generally get out quickly if you say the words “I have no intention to harm myself. I feel that I have achieved maximum therapeutic benefit and would like to be released.” Write it down.
The torture chamber is sadly some people’s experience, but these days you’ve got a better chance of being tortured by boredom. If you DM me, I will help you research hospitals in your area that offer actual therapeutic interventions. And three days of medical debt (which you don’t have to pay back) is worth the chance of saving your life.
If you don’t have a therapist or are still worried about involuntary commitment, some crisis lines like the TransLifeline have strict policies against non-consensual active rescue. They will never call the cops or force you to do anything you don’t want to do. You can reach them at 877-565-8860 from 10am-6pm PST.
Please try to remember that you are irreplaceable. We need you very very much.
