Case in point.
Oh, and "she" is full of sh*t. Anyone who says they're planning to commit suicide at some fixed point is grabbing for attention. Nothing more.
You're correct only up to a point. But there's a different between looking for attention and a cry for help. Obviously there's some anxiety about how her life will change after she graduates. Often uncertainty about the future and major changes can cause anxiety and depression.
Fortunately the fact that she has no immediate plans indicate she's most likely not in immediate danger.
As for "reporting" it, that can be a tough decision. That she felt like she could talk about it indicates some trust, and some level of rapport, so sometimes it's better to maintain that than risk a sense of betrayal. However, in situations where there seems to be more of an immediate danger or current self-destructive behavior, then the decision to "report" it might be the better option. No matter what, it's still a tough decision. But I mostly agree with faulty_damper, connections are important.
Most unfortunately, professional help is by no means a guarantee that someone will actually recover.
I seem to recall some national news a few months ago; two unrelated stories, one about combat veteran suicides and the other about teen suicides. If I recall correctly, some 50% of the people who committed suicide had been getting treated at some point before the suicide.
For instance, this article:
Veterans' Suicide Rates Going Up Despite Efforts to Address Mental Health Issues...The majority of veterans who have a suicide event were last seen in an outpatient setting, with a high prevalence of nonfatal suicide events resulting from overdose or other intentional poisoning...
And this one (Jan 2013):
Study Shows Many Teens at Risk for Suicidal Behavior Despite Mental Health HelpA major new study released today concludes that one in eight American teens has had suicidal thoughts. One of every 25 has attempted suicide.
Those findings come from a survey of nearly 6,500 teens published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, the largest in-depth analysis of teens on this subject.
More than half of the young people who planned, thought of, or attempted to kill themselves had received at least some treatment. Nearly 1,400 between the ages of 13 and 18 took their own life in 2010...
I had depression when I was a kid, and it got worse in my early twenties. But I hadn't tried to commit suicide. It wasn't until about 2 years after I started seeing therapists and taking meds that I had my first suicide attempt.
Sure, I know that doesn't prove anything; just my personal experience with it.
When I was a kid, my dad committed suicide. He just started seeing a doctor for his depression and problems sleeping, and was started on a med. (Here's a quote from WebMD about the drug he was prescribed:
Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: memory loss, mental/mood/behavior changes (such as new/worsening depression, abnormal thoughts, thoughts of suicide, hallucinations, confusion, agitation, aggressive behavior, anxiety).
He committed suicide shortly after. I think it was a week later, but not sure. Never saw it coming. Didn't have a history of suicidal behavior. Maybe he talked about it with my mom, or members of his family, but 30 years later his brother still says "suicide is the coward's way out." So I can only imagine what his brother would have told him had he talked about his feelings with him prior to his death.
But I digress... not a simple issue. Connections to friends and family is the most important thing I think. Sometimes I think seeing a therapist once a week is like seeing a prostitute for sex. If you can't find a friend or family member to listen and be supportive, you have to pay someone $100+ dollars for 45 minutes to do the job.
I wouldn't say therapists have never helped me. I'm frequently reminded of helpful things I've learned from some of the many therapists I've had. Whether or not I'd be better off today if I just dealt with my problems without therapy and meds like many people do I couldn't honestly say.
And I've "heard" many people have been helped by the medications available today. I don't feel they helped me, but many people will say that a psych med helped them.
Not an easy issue for sure. I'd suggest getting as much information and points of view as you can about it, and watch for the warning signs. Then make your decision based on your conscience, and what you feel you'd be able to live with.
Topic: Suicide