Is suicide considered a crime/illegal in the UK

[Awaytome]

Just wondering is suicide a crime here?

No

If you google 'is suicide a crime in UK?' you'll get lots of info.

No

Ok, just wondering about the legislation then that covers you being sectioned for being suicidal? How does that work? If you're not expressing a wish to do something illegal, why can you be held against your will to prevent you from doing it?
Just trying to get my head around the scenario here.

No, and it never was, who would be prosecuted? Trying and failing was, up until 1961.

no, so the phrase commit suicide should no longer be used it is felt

Ok, so it's not illegal, yet you're prevented from doing it right?

How does that equate?
I feel like eating too many cakes which might kill me, nobody cares.
I say I'm feeling suicidal, I'm locked up? Is there a different legislation that covers suicidal expression particularly?

Does it come under anti social behaviour or something?

The legislation acts in "a persons best interest" when their mental state renders them incapable of making safe decisions regarding their own/someone else's safety

That's really interesting I never thought about it that way.. Watching thread with interest

Ok, just wondering about the legislation then that covers you being sectioned for being suicidal?
The Mental Health Act is not about preventing crime, it is about preventing people with mental health issues from causing themselves or others serious harm.

Are you talking about people with mental health illnesses who are assessed as being a danger to themselves or others? That is different to anyone saying they want to kill themselves if they have full mental capacity.

You would be detained in order to protect you.

Is this something that you are experiencing at the moment op?

it's an interesting question. You could argue that if you disclose to a Dr that you have suicidal thoughts, as they have the power to section you, or at least start the process to detain you, to not do so could be considered abetting a suicide, which is illegal and can be treated as manslaughter or murder.

You can be sectioned to prevent you harming yourself or others. It’s not because it’s illegal it’s because we recognise that those who wish to harm themselves are suffering with mental illness and if they weren’t suffering with an illness, would not wish to hurt themselves.

Expressing suicidal ideation does not get a person locked up. People are sectioned because they are ill and need others to look after them and keep them safe while they recover.

Go gentle here folks. Pretty obvious something’s amiss.

What’s up, OP?

But it takes way more than just saying I want to kill myself to get sectioned for this. It's not that easy to get sectioned

It’s not because it’s illegal it’s because we recognise that those who wish to harm themselves are suffering with mental illness

That isn't always the case though. There have been plenty of instances where somebody has decided to end their life due to a physical condition that is incurable. At the moment they need to travel to another country, such as Switzerland, to receive euthanasia. Not everyone who wished to end their life suffers from a mental health problem.

The mental health act is surely to stop someone that is mentally unwell hurting themselves when they can not think clearly. So one would be detained to protect them as they aren’t capable of protecting themselves from harm

Wanting to take your own life is not normal and no it’s not illegal but it would indicate that one is very unwell

OOhhh, there's a doozy of a philosophic mind melter.
Is suicide like euthanasia for people with chronic mental illness?

... pressed post too soon. it's also about ensuring people get assessment and treatment. But in the context of 'why are people detained to prevent them from doing something that isn't illegal', that's the answer. It's not about legality, it's aimed to protect someone from harm resulting from an illness.

People are detained under the mental health act usually by two Drs and an approved mental health practionet(usually social woeker) to protect themselves and or others from harm, the police can be involved but to aid the mental health professuonals , the police. have limited powers under the mental healrh act and they can detain somone and take them to be assessed by the crisis team etc but ithey are not arresting them

Are you ok OP? Do you need to talk to someone?