Thanks for bringing up this topic, Deborah. I've often wondered if my son's suicide attempts were partly influenced by the fact that a couple of boys in his high school class had killed themselves, as well as the mother of another one, and then a few other kids died from illness or accidents, all within a year or two. You are so right about the impulsiveness. My son's first attempt was done in a fit of anger and he was within a few minutes of succeeding before I found him. His first reaction, when he came to, was to cry and say how sorry he was. He had just turned 18, in the beginning of his senior year. I wonder if maybe they don't see the suicide of others as something like, "If THAT person couldn't take any more, I probably can't, either, so I might as well end it now." My son had struggled with depression since he was 12 and probably felt like it would never end. Thanks again for the info.

That whole myth about talking to someone about suicide puts it in their head is definitely true with me. If I want to stop myself from going through with any plans I have I'll tell someone and discuss things cause then I know that they are watching me and I won't be able to go through with it. Talking about it brings it into the open. Secrets are 'safe' for me to do what I want... or at least think I want at the time.