Do suicide notes help or hurt?

[theway1]

I'm planning on leaving a very long and detailed suicide note to my family. I'm planning on fully explaining my decision, which I feel is very understandable. I will also provide them with reassurance that I love them and that there is nothing they could have done for me.

It seems that the suicide bereaved always grapple with the question of "WHY". But with my note, I will answer in full detail

However, according to AI, suicide notes do more harm than good. Is this true? I feel like leaving with no explanation at all would be much worse...

 

[Abandoned Phantom]

Honstly, I wouldn't trust AI for much of anything. Take anything that an AI language model tells you with a huge grain of salt. My take, give them the option. They can always not read it. But if you don't write it, then they never can. Every single question they have, will be left purely to speculation. They will wonder if maybe they could have done something. If you can maybe answer the hardest question, the "why?" question, maybe that makes them feel just that much better. Even 1% feeling better is enough reason for me, to suggest leaving one.
I don't understand how it could possibly make it worse. (This is more of an ignorance thing.)

 

[jeevasO-o]

Ai can be stupid. Don't trust it or ask it about suicide advice!! Especially chatgpt. I think suicide notes are good for explanation. I think people could be confused or not understand why you did it without a note. Of course it can hurt them but I think it would hurt more if you didn't understood it? I think? For me personally it would be 100x worse if I lost someone to suicide and they didn't left a note / explanation.

Here's also a thread talking about it:
Why you shouldn't ask AI about suicide

 

[TomIsNotMyName]

Like the others said, I think leaving a note is better. In my opinion, it's important to emphasize that it's not the other's fault (if that's the case) and that they couldn't have done anything to save you. But of course this is up to you

 

[kuroshimi]

As already said, you shouldn't rely on AI answers, since LLMs especially tend to hallucinate.

Regarding the question, I think the note can be helpful for other to understand your intentions and answering that "why" question.

 

[itsallogrenow]

I'm planning on leaving a very long and detailed suicide note to my family. I'm planning on fully explaining my decision, which I feel is very understandable. I will also provide them with reassurance that I love them and that there is nothing they could have done for me.

It seems that the suicide bereaved always grapple with the question of "WHY". But with my note, I will answer in full detail

However, according to AI, suicide notes do more harm than good. Is this true? I feel like leaving with no explanation at all would be much worse...

From what I've read:

It helps if you are absolving the other people, for example, it's not their fault you've committed suicide and explain why you've done it as it helps them come to terms with your death

 

[howtounborn]

I don't think you should let AI make personal choices for you. Leaving a note is the most personal choice of all, and it's your decision to make based on your family and circumstances.

 

[RainyDays]

Leaving a note could be the only thing someone has left of you. Writing a note is completely up to you. If you left a note, your family would know that you loved and not hated them. If you didn't leave a note, your family might be left wondering if you hated them. You could even do a video instead of a handwritten/typed note.

 

[doomedbynarrative]

Artificial "Intelligence" is often dumb and wrong.

 

[Riven]

overall i think its better to leave a note, though that may depend on your circumstances. ive always planned to create multiple notes for different people, though id also have a general one for people. i also plan on having one for the first responders (assuming i do it at home), though im not sure if theyd actually read it.

 

[frogs]

There is some limited research (survey-based, biased demographics) suggesting that on average, there's no effect on the grief process for the recipients / loved ones unless they feel they "expect" a suicide note, in which case they are better off receiving it.

Source: Suicide Notes: Assessing Their Impact on the Bereaved (Anna's Archive link for full text)

Method: To address this issue we conducted on an online survey querying 146 mostly American suicide bereaved adults who indicated severe emotional distress after their losses, 80% of whom had lost first degree-relatives.
Results: We found no significant differences in mental health outcomes between those who received suicide notes and those who had not; nor were differences noted between those whose notes contained helpful or unhelpful information and those who had not received such information.
Conclusion: We also observed poorer mental health outcomes among the suicide bereaved who expected to receive a suicide note after their loved one died-and did not receive any communication- indicating needs for clinical support among this vulnerable subgroup.

 

[IsilOzgurluk]

The only way a suicide note wouldnt do harm is if you said you were nihilistic and depressed. Anything personal, and they'll just think they could have done more to"save" you. Just my take

 

[vitbar]

I would want a note.

The only way a suicide note wouldnt do harm is if you said you were nihilistic and depressed. Anything personal, and they'll just think they could have done more to"save" you. Just my take

Depression has potential to heal, nihilism can change or even be liberating in life. I'm not sure much beyond chronic incurable pain would prevent people from wondering if there was more they could have done. Even then some would wonder if a miracle or medical breakthrough might have come.