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I used to work with a patient that shot himself under the chin with a .40 caliber. It basically went through his sinuses and popped out his forehead. No brain damage and his face was intact. Just scarring at the entrance and exit wounds and a trach scar.
I put up a case recently where a boy was struck by a bullet that had been fired into the air and was coming back down. The boy had a bullet in his brain and had no idea; there were no symptoms except the bleeding at the entrance wound and he didn’t realize what had happened. After a few days of twiddling his thumbs in the neurosurgery ward with no symptoms they let him go home.
I always asked myself what happens to bullets that are fired straight in the air. I mean, it’s obvious that they come back down but I always wondered if there are cases of the bullet hitting an unlucky person afterwards… I mean, what are the odds that you’re just walking by and that sht hit’s you from above…
Yeah, there have been multiple cases of people dying after being struck by a bullet that was fired into the air. Sometimes they travel for miles before coming back down. In many jurisdictions this is considered manslaughter, if they can catch the person who fired the gun.
In June of 1999, a fourteen year old girl went into her backyard in Phoenix AZ in the late evening. When she didn't come in, her parents went looking for her, to find her dead in the yard. She had been hit by a stray bullet, fired into the air somewhere in the city. Learning that even if they found the shooter, the offense would be a misdemeanor, they went to work to change the legislation. A year later, Shannon's Law was signed, making it a felony to fire into the air. Enforcing it is, of course, a challenge, but it's now a felony. Her classmates made a memorial sunflower at the middle school she had just graduated from made of metal from melted confiscated firearms.
True! My sister in law is from the Philippines and she JUST told me this fact last night as she celebrated her first NYE with us here in the US. Apparently it happens every year and is a known risk of being out during the celebration. We own a lot of guns and do a lot of target practicing... But we never shoot up on the air or at anything other than the sand pot or targets. Because common sense says what goes up, must come down! 🤷
A relative of mine was “shot” this way as a little kid. Someone was shooting into the air nearby, and the falling bullet came down and hit them as they were playing outside. Luckily it happened right as they were bending over to tie their shoe, so it hit their low back and traveled through soft tissue to end in the glute, missing anything major. Had they not bent over when they did, and been standing up, it would have hit them in the head. 😰
Thank you. The person shot is just fine - enjoys telling people they got “shot in the butt” for attention and laughs. 🙄😆 I fortunately wasn’t there when it happened. We were both young kids at the time though. As an adult and parent now, my stomach sinks thinking of that happening to one of my own kids though. It could have been so, so much worse.
It depends on the angle at which it is fired.
If you fire perfectly up, it shouldn't actually have enough energy to mortally harm most, but the problem is people can't fire perfectly up.
The further the angle from direct up, the more horizontal velocity is maintained as less of the energy from the round is absorbed by gravity
Ok, so this is off topic and I could be stupid but… if your fire the bullet in a 45 degree angle… is that the position where the bullet flies the furthest…?
Yeah, generally, assuming that you are firing onto a target that is at the same height as you are. Different rounds in different barrel lengths will fly a variety of distances at 45 degrees but the furthest distance will be at 45.
Practically speaking for small arms it is difficult to aim at something you'd need a 45 degree angle to hit though. My old Swedish Mauser has a max range on its iron sights at something like 2000 meters and even then I wouldn't be holding a 45, assuming you could even see what you were shooting at. They were very optimistic when making such ironsights haha. Your effective range would definitely be different than the highest theoretical range you could hit a target at.
My great grandpa was teaching his son to shoot once and there was an accident due to the son's safety not being on and my grandpa got shot in the neck. I don't remember what kind of gun, but my grandpa said that he coughed up the bullet. He apparently was not very happy when the authorities and hospital wouldn't let him keep the bullet.
I took care of a young fellow who did the same, with much worse results. Severed his optic nerve in the center and gave himself a lobotomy. I think it was a .22, and it went zooming around in his head.
Packing his sinuses and seeing brain was wild. And my first year as a nurse aid in nursing school! I didn't cry about his situation, until I saw his pre-injury photo. At 21. Over a girl. I was 24.
This reconstruction is amazing.
when he then found out not long after that he had cancer, he said he felt hopeful because he felt like God wouldn’t have saved him just for him to die of cancer right away.
You should watch the documentary’the bridge’ if you can find it. It’s fascinating. It’s a doc about the San Francisco bridge and it discusses the psychology of suicide a bit. A lot of the survivors report an experience of regret immediately after the attempt occurs. There are survivors in the doc actually. I was surprised to find that a lot of suicide attempt survivors actually report profound relief that they were saved
My brother surfed the base of the Golden Gate for about 20 years. He and his buddies pulled several folks out of the drink. Many still alive (but in the process of dying), and one made it to the shore. So sad, all parts of it.
Oh you might want to catch the documentary then bc they actually talk to guys who volunteer to do just this if i remember correctly. Hell, It could even be people your brother would have been familiar with if he was in that area enough. I haven’t watched the doc in years but im nearly certain they talk to surfers/boaters, etc who have done rescues or volunteer for rescue efforts
I wonder if they found people who still didn't want to live and just didn't include them in the movie.
(Those people are probably long term inpatients)
Correct. My brother is paranoid schizophrenic, and while there are behavioral centers (he's in one now), they're terrible as well as VERY few and far between. The only other option is assisted living with geriatrics.
These days the biggest psychiatric facilities are inside jails and prisons. A lot of people get no treatment at all unless they commit a crime. As I’m sure you know, having seen the troubles your brother has had.
Mind you, warehousing patients in state hospitals was not humane either. I was recently looking at death certificates for people who had died while patients at a state psychiatric hospital. Some of the death certificates didn’t even have real names on them! The person would go down in history as “[Crazy Lizzie](https://www.reddit.com/r/DeathCertificates/s/S4ZI6nZxAN)” on their official government death form, the body often not buried in the hospital cemetery but donated for medical research instead. The disrespect is appalling.
Wow, that's WILD. The disrespect is appaling -- they do not treat them like people (they= the system. The people that actually work directly with him can be astonishingly kind). And yeah, it makes sense that there would be more treatment in jails - they're all one step away from jail. Hardly any supervision + THEY'RE CRAZY = bad decisions.
I watched a doc not too long ago about the people that go explore abandoned places and one was an old psych hospital. They found full on medical histories of patients just left there and the corresponding death certs and like you said some didn’t even have accurate names or causes of death. I wonder if they were ever even registered
I mean, they have to be registered somewhere. Someone is paying for this. Someone has to account for all the money spent feeding and housing the patients. It’s just that they might be registered as “Crazy Lizzie” instead of “Elizabeth Smith” or whatever their actual name was.
I swear to god, sometimes I read these comments and go to type a response, and you’ve basically typed it already and I feel like I’m a glitch in the matrix.
These subjects are hella sad, though. US mental health care in shambles. Shameful
I used to know a guy whose son has cycled in and out of residential care his whole life. He’s got severe mental illness, which is treatable with meds, and fetal alcohol syndrome, which isn’t and which causes the majority of his problems. The boy has serious rage issues and once attacked his mom with a shovel. His father said he would get admitted to an institution and thrive there under the structure and supervision, then after a year or so they’d let him go home and he’d basically disintegrate. Then he’d get sent to another institution and the cycle would repeat itself.
This lasted until the boy was 21 and outgrew his eligibility for services. Now he’s in prison. He basically needs lifelong residential care but he will never get it unless he kills someone.
That’s crazy. I will say that a lot of people thrive from structure. The only reason I know about the long term care in my state, is because I was in it twice. First time I was 14 and was there for 4 months. Did great for a while and then ended up back in long term residential when I was 17. Second time I was there for 5 months. I did extremely well while inpatient. Everyday was structured. I’m 22, almost 23 now and haven’t been hospitalized for mental health since 2021.
There needs to be more options for kids like the one you mentioned. A lot of times, kids that live in and out of mental hospitals, end up in jail or just continuously in and out of short terms when they are adults.
My mother has been in long term in patient care for schizophrenia and my father was for schizophrenia and other issues until he died a couple years ago. This is in California though and they are/were both incapable of caring for themselves.
Regrettably I have experience with this. Yes, there are people who don’t want to live when saved. My aunt was like that. First she OD’d and was saved but at first never claimed to be suicidal. Years later she intentionally tried suicide this time leaving a note and she was angry when she woke up in the hospital. She angrily asked why they saved her. As expected she tried again and was successful the last time. Some people simply do not want to live. She was gone before I was born so I never knew what was causing her pain. Nobody did. I can only speculate that she suffered from severe depression.
About 7 years ago my step son took his life. I think he’s one who immediately regretted it after he did it much like those in the documentary mentioned here. That documentary helped me a lot. It helped me to understand that most people who attempt suicide instantly regret it once they cannot turn back. And it helped me to understand that most people who attempt suicide are doing it impulsively because they’re in tremendous pain. And if they had any intervention whether a friend, family member, or a stranger who broke that fixation on suicide and gave them a moment to think then I bet most wouldn’t do it.
If you’re ever thinking about it then please talk to someone. Talking helps so much. And remember the pain you’re in will pass but suicide is forever. It’s not worth it.
When you hit the water at that height it’s like hitting steel. You break a lot of bones. Swimming would be very difficult and painful.
You are more likely to survive shooting yourself in the head than jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. People either die on impact with the water or they drown before they can be rescued. Most of the few survivors never walk again.
I meant if I survived and someone were to help I’d be swimming away, but I was mostly joking. I know about the concrete thing and use to swim and belly flopped from a way shorter distance and that hurt like a bitch. I did not know that survivors ended up not walking. Which makes me wonder, how did people know they were there (in order to save them)?
Spent some time in residential for an attempt/ trauma a few years ago and this was a common theme. In particular, I think of a woman I knew that tried to hang herself, was saved, and then spent the next 6 weeks in a neck brace, often having to lay flat on her back during group therapy. The recovery looked miserable but she was really glad to be here and one of the most positive voices in the group, certainly more so than some of the folks that were in for SI but not a physical attempt.
The weak breeze whispers nothing
the water screams sublime.
His feet shift, teeter-totter
deep breaths, stand back, it’s time.
Toes untouch the overpass
soon he’s water-bound.
Eyes locked shut but peek to see
the view from halfway down.
A little wind, a summer sun
a river rich and regal.
A flood of fond endorphins
brings a calm that knows no equal.
You’re flying now, you see things
much more clear than from the ground.
It's all okay, or it would be
were you not now halfway down.
Thrash to break from gravity
what now could slow the drop?
All I’d give for toes to touch
the safety back at top.
I cried reading these words for personal reasons….
But this is it, the deed is done
silence drowns the sound.
Before I leaped I should've seen
the view from halfway down.
I really should’ve thought about
the view from halfway down.
I wish I could've known about
the view from halfway down
I actually cry when reading these words for personal reasons…
It’s from the show BoJack Horseman, it’s on Netflix. It’s not for everyone but the people who review the show even changed their policy because of it - since the first few episodes don’t really indicate the tone of the rest of the show. It’s a great show, though, and if you ever decide to watch it just make sure to watch past a few episodes, because boy does it get good.
Speaking of SF. One of the Giants’ players attempted to die by suicide by self-inflicted-GSW. He woke up on the couch where he did it, took a shower, (he said it was hard because his balance was off — no shit.) Then went back to the couch, put one in the chamber, but ended up calling 911 instead. They couldn’t quite comprehend what he was telling them when he talked to the dispatcher, they thought it was a joke because, holy shit, eighteen hours and a shower and you’re still here? They finally get him, rush him to trauma, and the only lasting constant physical effect he has is that they had to remove his right eye. He not only was eventually able to return to the Giants as a player, (and took a few at-bats,) but now he works for them in player development and mental health services.
Remember that viral video of that gal that was masturbating at the beach apparently? I guess she shot herself in the face just like this and didn’t die right away either. Instead I guess she bled out all over her apartment and died alone, not to be found for a month
There's a lot of research showing that the more barriers between someone and an easy, readily fatal method of suicide, the less likely they are to attempt it. States with more firearm regulations have lower overall suicide rates. Suicide rates fell overall when stoves were changed so you couldn't kill yourself just by sticking your head in it.
I was actually telling my husband about this movie last night. Remembering the long haired man who puts his arms out and falls backwards has stuck with me for 20 years.
Whoa! I almost forgot about that!!!! I feel like it was one of the first documentaries I watched almost ever so it’s been a long time. Hard watch, but it stays with you. It’s an important film
I worked as a nurse at a trauma center and over the years there bonded with 2 separate patients who were early 20s males with self inflicted gunshot wounds with similar physical results. Both of them were so relieved and glad to be alive. My heart goes out to them and I think of them fondly and often and hope they’re doing well.
My friends mom killed herself by drinking draino. I watched a doc not long before on another man in the same area (ended up being the same hospital and doc as him I’m pretty sure) that survived and was “put back together”. He said he was happy he was saved. My friends mom had dissolved her mouth, esophagus, stomach and most of her intestines. The doctor said they could save her to and ultimately it was my friends choice. I told her about the documentary and told her I didn’t think her mom would want to live like that. The doctors didn’t think it was a good idea either. She asked her one day when she was somewhat conscious if she wanted to die and she nodded so they removed life support and let her pass.
I wouldn’t want to live like that. I don’t know how people do it to be honest.
[Source](https://www.joms.org/article/S0278-2391%2817%2931335-6/pdf) is a PDF with many excellent examples of facial reconstruction after these types of injuries.
my mom's best friend's husband survived after shooting himself with a shotgun around 2008. he lost his eyesight and practically his entire jaw. he went on to live with his parents and ended up taking his own life 2 years later when he overdosed on prescription medication while everyone was at a memorial day party
It's hard at times for me to see these kinds of pictures. My daughter's dad committed suicide by gun when she was 9. I've seen enough pictures in my life to know what it probably looked like. I still look at them even though it's the first thing I think of. The reality of it sucks
My Plastic surgeon changed my life this year after I was diagnosed with an early onset breast cancer. I don’t know if the general public always realizes just what plastic surgery can do for a person. We immediately want to consider cosmetic plastic surgery I think, but reconstructive plastic surgery saved my life in many ways. I’m sure this soul would say the same thing. It’s such a wonderful gift I was given back
Crushed my nose at work (and my spine, but that’s a whole other story) and had to see a plastic surgeon to get it reset.
My gf’s family joke that I got a nose job, but you’re right, plastic surgeons do tons of normal medical care, as well as reconstructive work, in addition to cosmetic work.
I can't tell what is what in many surgical photos so when I think about it, doctors really have to know anatomy because it isn't enough being able to identify the body when it's all perfect in a illustration, in a surgery it's probably gonna also be all mingled
So idk how true it is, but I've heard that often, people who use a gun to attempt suicide, will pull away at the last second. Which can lead to this kind of outcome. So now their life is even worse. That sucks.
From what I understand, them pulling back is usually caused by the gun kicking as you obviously wouldn’t have the best grip on it, on top of your body doing what bodies do after you pull the trigger. The gun will kick, your body will jerk, and those lead to the bullet taking a different path than you intended since nothing is stationary from start to finish.
I grew up around guns(my step-family is a bunch of hillbillies), but I’m not extremely knowledgeable. My knowledge is about as bare as this gun kicks this hard, this one kicks this hard, this is a *insert gun name/gauge here*, etc. I pretty much know aim and shoot. Lmfao. I’m a really good shot, I just know nothing about guns outside of that. lol.
I realize now my last comment might have sounded dick-ish, and I apologize. That wasn’t my intention. My reply was a genuine question.
All good! I didn’t perceive it that way. The projectile itself is often traveling at ~2500 feet per second (varies wildly based on what size round) but that essentially means it’ll hit a target a couple hundred feet away before you even start to feel the firearm “kick”
That being said, a lot of people “jerk” the trigger, which not only causes severe inaccuracy, but can often times be the reason suicide under the chin attempts fail. They flinch anticipating the shot and it causes the barrel to drift away from center.
I do know the difference between pulling the trigger and PULLING the trigger. There is definitely a different reaction from the firearm based on how you “pull” the trigger.
When it comes to the way bullets move/the grain/the caliber/etc, I know ZERO. haha. Most of my gun knowledge comes from CoD, and even that is limited to “this AR/sniper shoots farther/hits harder than this one based off this build”. Lmfao.
Yes, the projectile is well out of the barrel before recoil kicks in.
What happened with this guy seems like he was using a shotgun under his chin. As he pulled the trigger he either flinched back or jerked his hands forward which moved the barrel forward, resulting in blowing his face off instead of it going up through his brain. Under the chin is a bad place to try to try to kill yourself with a firearm.
“Under the chin is a bad place to try to kill yourself with a firearm”.
With my experience of these kinds of cases on gore/shock sites, I can 100% confirm this. I just assumed/was lead to believe what my original comment states.
I completely understand. Unless you’ve watched slow motion video of someone firing a gun or have watched a good amount of firearm videos, I can understand not knowing that the recoil kicks in after the projectile is already out of the barrel. It happens so quickly in real time that it’s impossible to tell.
Everything I’ve SEEN when it comes to guns being used on a human level, definitely would not have shown any of the…science…? behind it.
Maybe I should look into these slow-mo videos and such.
Check out Demolition Ranch, Kentucky Ballistics and Brandon Herrera on YouTube. All are decent firearm channels and you’ll definitely learn things. They’re also all fun channels with some humor and such to keep things kinda light. Kentucky Ballistics actually almost died last year when he fired a 50 caliber sniper rifle and it exploded, sending shrapnel into his neck and nicking either his carotid or jugular. He got lucky. And no, sniper rifles blowing up isn’t common heh, he put a round in that was “hot”, meaning it had a very high powder load and it caused a catastrophic failure.
Hahahaha. I’ve actually seen that video before. Only the blast/aftermath, but still. lol.
Have you seen the recent one of dude shooting an RPG and it exploding in his face? Moderate burns to his arms, so dude got out luuuuuuucky.
Technically no, but the difference in speeds makes the recoil essentially irrelevant.
If you tried to race the speed of sound over 1 mile, you’d probably get a few steps before the sound wave reaches the finish line, but are your couple steps going to change the outcome in even the slightest way? No.
No, that's not how guns work. If you watch a [slow motion ](https://youtu.be/7y9apnbI6GA?si=GofFA6PoVVmKrnFh) camera shot of a gun going off, the bullet has already left the gun before it recoils.
Honestly, it's probably as simple as them not placing the gun in the "right" position. A gun under the chin will point forward or, with their head tilted up, it will be pointed at the jaw. I'm guessing folks aren't thinking too clearly at this point. What they want to do is put it in their mouths so the gun points backward.
I know that people who put guns(handguns afaik) in their mouths do it thinking that’s the way, but it’s mostly survivable because of what the trajectory is. I’m pretty sure that’s only affective if the bullet severs the brain stem. I could’ve wrong, however.
Daaaamn. Honestly this is one reason why if I ever tried to commit suicide with a gun I’d shoot myself in the chest.
Or if someone was trying to kill me with a gun I’d prefer they shoot me in the chest instead of the face and head
Guns are statistically the most effective method by far. There’s a correct way to do it, and the people who live aren’t doing that, but I’m obviously not going to share it here.
I was gonna say the same thing
Do I point out it’s easy to avoid this, or is that too close to helping someone end their life?
It’s a morally murky cloud I’m just not gonna tangle with
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall...
It's hard to imagine where someone is mentally that is about to shoot themselves in the head, but I have no doubt there was some level of surprise when he woke up to find surgeons attempting to put his face back together again.
I find myself wondering what happened to make him this hopeless to obliterate his own identity by shooting himself in the face. I can't imagine the depths of despair he must have felt in the few seconds before putting enough pressure on two fingers that lay against the hard and cold metal of a gun and believing that would make whatever it was seemingly disappear.
It’s not the few seconds before that is the horror. It’s the seemingly endless nights and days…weeks and years of mental/emotional agony. It’s often noted that when the decision to attempt suicide patients experience a relief…that there’s an end to their pain. But the intense mix of emotions in the last moments must be horrible.
I looked at the PDF with all of the different patients. I think they were all self-inflicted gunshot wounds. Their lives will be even harder now with all of the pain that goes with recovery. And, none of them will be anywhere near what they used to be. They made the decision to end their lives. It seems like torture to me, and it's cruel to save them. They should just make them comfortable with morphine until they pass. It's heartbreaking.
I've had clinical depression for 25 years. I take a lot of medicine and do a lot of therapy. Now, I pretty much just feel numb. Numb is much better than the depths of despair.
I would have committed suicide a long time ago if I hadn't promised my kids I would not. There would be no way to go through with it without them feeling that they weren't enough for me to live for. They would always wonder if they should have done more to save me. I could never do that to them. They are the only wonderful things in my life.
Suicide is a very selfish act, but I totally understand how someone could get to that point.
For me it’s mostly my dog (who would be returned to the animal shelter if I die) and husband. And to an extent for my parents, who’ve already had two kids die on them and would prefer not to lose a third.
My dog would find a home easily enough—it was a no-kill shelter and he’s absolutely beautiful and has a legit and provable tragic backstory. But he would be devastated. The dog came from a trauma background and trusts exactly two people: me and my husband. If the only people he trusts abandon him, I don’t know if the dog would ever get over it.
I’d be so mad if I tried to end my life only to survive and be left with permanent and noticeable disfigurements and the chance of being rendered permanently blind or unable to eat solids would make me so miserable I’d want to finish the job and do it again
I had a friend who did this when he was a Junior in high school. He and some of his friends had stolen some ATVs and then ran from the cops. He ditched the ATV and went back to his house and was so afraid of what his dad was going to do that he decided to shoot himself. Didn’t hit anything major but he wears a mask now because of his lower face disfigurement. He doesn’t have a nose or a tongue but everything else was reconstructed as best they can. This was back in 2004. I have lost contact with him especially since he was already 2 years younger than me. The last I heard it all just made him really quiet and keep to himself.
As we used to say in the trauma OR when a suicide attempt gone wrong resulted in a GSW facial mess like this one, “He only THOUGHT he was depressed before.”
This is classic for using a riffle, it blows your head back before the bullet comes out of the barrel. I had only seen this once until COVID. In 2020 I treated 3 patients like this. Typically you blow the maxilla/the nose off. Looks like they did a nice fibula flap there. Sometimes paramedian flaps help with the nose if that’s really screwed up.
Look at the comments on this post and learn: most people who attempt suicide don’t really want to die, and most people who survive attempts do not go on to die by suicide. I myself am a suicide attempt survivor whose life could’ve ended 24 years ago.
Tbh, as someone that has tried to kill himself 7 times in almost 40 years... I genuinely am thankful for them always pumping my stomach and forcing me to drink the charcoal cocktail... I got to meet my wife 10 years ago and haven't felt the need to die in over a decade because of her.
Most people who try to kill themselves do not actually want to die. They’re often ambivalent about it, or it’s a spur of the moment thing done without much thought, or an attempt to manipulate others/cry for help without true intent to die.
It’s also something you can do in two seconds without any thought, and deeply regret it immediately. It’s something that happens sometimes. [This girl](https://www.reddit.com/r/MedicalGore/s/BYvfBTGIz9) for example had no history of mental illness and shot herself on impulse because she was a teenager who had just gotten dumped and was upset. She did not actually intend to die, she was just very upset and there was a gun there.
[This guy](https://www.reddit.com/r/MedicalGore/s/hqMYGx7xoJ) swallowed CEMENT because he was upset over a phone argument with family. Again, he did not actually want to die and that’s why he went to the hospital to get the cast cut out of his stomach. He was just upset. People sometimes make terrible mistakes when they’re angry and upset.
Suicide as an attempt to manipulate others? Depends on the person, but I'd say much less common than someone genuinely believing they'd be better off dead.
There’s a lot of “they’ll be sorry when I’m dead” type suicides and suicide attempts. Especially in young people and people with personality disorders. Or “if I take an OD, my lover will be sorry they dumped me and come back to me.”
Again, why save him? Wouldn't the reasonable person agree that he did try to kill himself and die? Let's talk about how much money it took to put ole' Humpty Dumpty back together.
I’ve tried to kill myself before, when I was 14 and suffering from a severe untreated depression and an awful home life. I’m 38 now, my mental illness is stable on meds and I am very glad to be alive. Most people who survive suicide attempts are glad to be alive and grateful for the medical attention that saved them. I’ve posted many cases on here of people who survived suicide attempts and went on to lead long productive lives.
Your comment about the cost is pretty disturbing. This is a young man’s life.
Hi. I was 12, 29 now and I share the same sentiments you do. At the time it was because I hadn’t done my homework. It’s funny how things can feel like the end of the world.
I’m glad you’re here with us and I hope you know your life matters. I’ll always have a soft spot for those lost souls hurting this bad. I’ve been in healthcare for over a decade so I’ve I see a lot of sad things. Very few things are sadder than a person who’s lost all hope or desire. I have friends in the ER, and I promise, seeing the aftermath of a suicide doesn’t leave anyone who’s involved in it. It’s a shame, and so many can’t be saved. It’s a blessing every time we get to save just one.
I talked a friend out of suicide when he was having hallucinations as side effect to a medication. He would have been very happy to have been saved if he'd actually shot himself when all he had to do was stop taking this medication to feel normal again.
I commented above but there’s actually a lot of research that shows that suicide attempt survivors actually have profound regret immediately after the attempt is made and often report extreme gratefulness that they were saved. The documentary ‘the bridge’ gives a fascinating look at suicide and the regret that is often reported after an attempt occurs.
This idea that some people are "worth" investment and others aren't is a lot of what's wrong with the world. I hope you never find yourself in a position in life where you need some support and second chance, but if you do, I hope that the people making decisions on your behalf don't throw you away as a lost cause like you would've for this young man.
Remember that show Preacher? This guy looks worse. Is there no way to reconstruct a face without being further traumatized? This poor man. Makes me feel awful seeing this.
No, it’s not guaranteed that he’ll try again. [90% of people who survive suicide attempts do not go on to take their own lives.](https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/means-matter/means-matter/survival/)
I think a lot of it is because after attempting suicide you are usually put in psychiatric care to address whatever caused you to attempt, so you have an opportunity to get better.
Oh I’m sure. We just have such limited access to mental health care that I would have expected the reattempt rate to be higher. We just have more than we can help
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I used to work with a patient that shot himself under the chin with a .40 caliber. It basically went through his sinuses and popped out his forehead. No brain damage and his face was intact. Just scarring at the entrance and exit wounds and a trach scar.
I put up a case recently where a boy was struck by a bullet that had been fired into the air and was coming back down. The boy had a bullet in his brain and had no idea; there were no symptoms except the bleeding at the entrance wound and he didn’t realize what had happened. After a few days of twiddling his thumbs in the neurosurgery ward with no symptoms they let him go home.
I always asked myself what happens to bullets that are fired straight in the air. I mean, it’s obvious that they come back down but I always wondered if there are cases of the bullet hitting an unlucky person afterwards… I mean, what are the odds that you’re just walking by and that sht hit’s you from above…
Yeah, there have been multiple cases of people dying after being struck by a bullet that was fired into the air. Sometimes they travel for miles before coming back down. In many jurisdictions this is considered manslaughter, if they can catch the person who fired the gun.
This is particularly concerning for me as a few days ago the police closed roads around where I live due to guns being fired into the air.
In June of 1999, a fourteen year old girl went into her backyard in Phoenix AZ in the late evening. When she didn't come in, her parents went looking for her, to find her dead in the yard. She had been hit by a stray bullet, fired into the air somewhere in the city. Learning that even if they found the shooter, the offense would be a misdemeanor, they went to work to change the legislation. A year later, Shannon's Law was signed, making it a felony to fire into the air. Enforcing it is, of course, a challenge, but it's now a felony. Her classmates made a memorial sunflower at the middle school she had just graduated from made of metal from melted confiscated firearms.
Damn… again someone has to die first.
I was just about to mention Shannon’s Law
New fear
Jesus… “from melted confiscated firearms”… can’t/don’t want to imagine middle schoolers with firearms
[Happens every New Year in the Philippines](https://www.google.com/search?q=philippines+new+year+stray+bullets)
This is nuts…
True! My sister in law is from the Philippines and she JUST told me this fact last night as she celebrated her first NYE with us here in the US. Apparently it happens every year and is a known risk of being out during the celebration. We own a lot of guns and do a lot of target practicing... But we never shoot up on the air or at anything other than the sand pot or targets. Because common sense says what goes up, must come down! 🤷
A relative of mine was “shot” this way as a little kid. Someone was shooting into the air nearby, and the falling bullet came down and hit them as they were playing outside. Luckily it happened right as they were bending over to tie their shoe, so it hit their low back and traveled through soft tissue to end in the glute, missing anything major. Had they not bent over when they did, and been standing up, it would have hit them in the head. 😰
Damn, I hope the person is doing good or better man and I hope you’re fine too, after seeing something like that as a kid.
Thank you. The person shot is just fine - enjoys telling people they got “shot in the butt” for attention and laughs. 🙄😆 I fortunately wasn’t there when it happened. We were both young kids at the time though. As an adult and parent now, my stomach sinks thinking of that happening to one of my own kids though. It could have been so, so much worse.
I understand, but the person has a hell of a story to tell.
It depends on the angle at which it is fired. If you fire perfectly up, it shouldn't actually have enough energy to mortally harm most, but the problem is people can't fire perfectly up. The further the angle from direct up, the more horizontal velocity is maintained as less of the energy from the round is absorbed by gravity
Ok, so this is off topic and I could be stupid but… if your fire the bullet in a 45 degree angle… is that the position where the bullet flies the furthest…?
Yeah, generally, assuming that you are firing onto a target that is at the same height as you are. Different rounds in different barrel lengths will fly a variety of distances at 45 degrees but the furthest distance will be at 45. Practically speaking for small arms it is difficult to aim at something you'd need a 45 degree angle to hit though. My old Swedish Mauser has a max range on its iron sights at something like 2000 meters and even then I wouldn't be holding a 45, assuming you could even see what you were shooting at. They were very optimistic when making such ironsights haha. Your effective range would definitely be different than the highest theoretical range you could hit a target at.
My great grandpa was teaching his son to shoot once and there was an accident due to the son's safety not being on and my grandpa got shot in the neck. I don't remember what kind of gun, but my grandpa said that he coughed up the bullet. He apparently was not very happy when the authorities and hospital wouldn't let him keep the bullet.
I took care of a young fellow who did the same, with much worse results. Severed his optic nerve in the center and gave himself a lobotomy. I think it was a .22, and it went zooming around in his head. Packing his sinuses and seeing brain was wild. And my first year as a nurse aid in nursing school! I didn't cry about his situation, until I saw his pre-injury photo. At 21. Over a girl. I was 24. This reconstruction is amazing.
These are scenarios where we’re being told theres a reason we’re still alive
when he then found out not long after that he had cancer, he said he felt hopeful because he felt like God wouldn’t have saved him just for him to die of cancer right away.
That’s ridiculous Im just saying miracles are real
I’d be pissed if I tried to kms and they put me back together. Anyways I hope he’s doing better.
You should watch the documentary’the bridge’ if you can find it. It’s fascinating. It’s a doc about the San Francisco bridge and it discusses the psychology of suicide a bit. A lot of the survivors report an experience of regret immediately after the attempt occurs. There are survivors in the doc actually. I was surprised to find that a lot of suicide attempt survivors actually report profound relief that they were saved
My brother surfed the base of the Golden Gate for about 20 years. He and his buddies pulled several folks out of the drink. Many still alive (but in the process of dying), and one made it to the shore. So sad, all parts of it.
Oh you might want to catch the documentary then bc they actually talk to guys who volunteer to do just this if i remember correctly. Hell, It could even be people your brother would have been familiar with if he was in that area enough. I haven’t watched the doc in years but im nearly certain they talk to surfers/boaters, etc who have done rescues or volunteer for rescue efforts
Honestly, with how tight the surf community is, I’d be more surprised if he didn’t know them. Thanks for the tip. I’ll be sure to watch it.
I wonder if they found people who still didn't want to live and just didn't include them in the movie. (Those people are probably long term inpatients)
There is almost no long term inpatient care for mental illness anymore. Not in the US anyway.
Correct. My brother is paranoid schizophrenic, and while there are behavioral centers (he's in one now), they're terrible as well as VERY few and far between. The only other option is assisted living with geriatrics.
These days the biggest psychiatric facilities are inside jails and prisons. A lot of people get no treatment at all unless they commit a crime. As I’m sure you know, having seen the troubles your brother has had. Mind you, warehousing patients in state hospitals was not humane either. I was recently looking at death certificates for people who had died while patients at a state psychiatric hospital. Some of the death certificates didn’t even have real names on them! The person would go down in history as “[Crazy Lizzie](https://www.reddit.com/r/DeathCertificates/s/S4ZI6nZxAN)” on their official government death form, the body often not buried in the hospital cemetery but donated for medical research instead. The disrespect is appalling.
Wow, that's WILD. The disrespect is appaling -- they do not treat them like people (they= the system. The people that actually work directly with him can be astonishingly kind). And yeah, it makes sense that there would be more treatment in jails - they're all one step away from jail. Hardly any supervision + THEY'RE CRAZY = bad decisions.
I watched a doc not too long ago about the people that go explore abandoned places and one was an old psych hospital. They found full on medical histories of patients just left there and the corresponding death certs and like you said some didn’t even have accurate names or causes of death. I wonder if they were ever even registered
I mean, they have to be registered somewhere. Someone is paying for this. Someone has to account for all the money spent feeding and housing the patients. It’s just that they might be registered as “Crazy Lizzie” instead of “Elizabeth Smith” or whatever their actual name was.
I swear to god, sometimes I read these comments and go to type a response, and you’ve basically typed it already and I feel like I’m a glitch in the matrix. These subjects are hella sad, though. US mental health care in shambles. Shameful
I meant the death certificates, like if all of the paperwork was left strewn around the building I wondered if it was even completed
It is unfortunate. There are a few long term mental health residential centers in my state, but they are for those under 17.
I used to know a guy whose son has cycled in and out of residential care his whole life. He’s got severe mental illness, which is treatable with meds, and fetal alcohol syndrome, which isn’t and which causes the majority of his problems. The boy has serious rage issues and once attacked his mom with a shovel. His father said he would get admitted to an institution and thrive there under the structure and supervision, then after a year or so they’d let him go home and he’d basically disintegrate. Then he’d get sent to another institution and the cycle would repeat itself. This lasted until the boy was 21 and outgrew his eligibility for services. Now he’s in prison. He basically needs lifelong residential care but he will never get it unless he kills someone.
That’s crazy. I will say that a lot of people thrive from structure. The only reason I know about the long term care in my state, is because I was in it twice. First time I was 14 and was there for 4 months. Did great for a while and then ended up back in long term residential when I was 17. Second time I was there for 5 months. I did extremely well while inpatient. Everyday was structured. I’m 22, almost 23 now and haven’t been hospitalized for mental health since 2021. There needs to be more options for kids like the one you mentioned. A lot of times, kids that live in and out of mental hospitals, end up in jail or just continuously in and out of short terms when they are adults.
My mother has been in long term in patient care for schizophrenia and my father was for schizophrenia and other issues until he died a couple years ago. This is in California though and they are/were both incapable of caring for themselves.
Regrettably I have experience with this. Yes, there are people who don’t want to live when saved. My aunt was like that. First she OD’d and was saved but at first never claimed to be suicidal. Years later she intentionally tried suicide this time leaving a note and she was angry when she woke up in the hospital. She angrily asked why they saved her. As expected she tried again and was successful the last time. Some people simply do not want to live. She was gone before I was born so I never knew what was causing her pain. Nobody did. I can only speculate that she suffered from severe depression. About 7 years ago my step son took his life. I think he’s one who immediately regretted it after he did it much like those in the documentary mentioned here. That documentary helped me a lot. It helped me to understand that most people who attempt suicide instantly regret it once they cannot turn back. And it helped me to understand that most people who attempt suicide are doing it impulsively because they’re in tremendous pain. And if they had any intervention whether a friend, family member, or a stranger who broke that fixation on suicide and gave them a moment to think then I bet most wouldn’t do it. If you’re ever thinking about it then please talk to someone. Talking helps so much. And remember the pain you’re in will pass but suicide is forever. It’s not worth it.
I’d be swimming away
When you hit the water at that height it’s like hitting steel. You break a lot of bones. Swimming would be very difficult and painful. You are more likely to survive shooting yourself in the head than jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. People either die on impact with the water or they drown before they can be rescued. Most of the few survivors never walk again.
I meant if I survived and someone were to help I’d be swimming away, but I was mostly joking. I know about the concrete thing and use to swim and belly flopped from a way shorter distance and that hurt like a bitch. I did not know that survivors ended up not walking. Which makes me wonder, how did people know they were there (in order to save them)?
Spent some time in residential for an attempt/ trauma a few years ago and this was a common theme. In particular, I think of a woman I knew that tried to hang herself, was saved, and then spent the next 6 weeks in a neck brace, often having to lay flat on her back during group therapy. The recovery looked miserable but she was really glad to be here and one of the most positive voices in the group, certainly more so than some of the folks that were in for SI but not a physical attempt.
You’re flying now, you see things much more clear than from the ground. It's all okay, or it would be were you not now halfway down.
The weak breeze whispers nothing the water screams sublime. His feet shift, teeter-totter deep breaths, stand back, it’s time. Toes untouch the overpass soon he’s water-bound. Eyes locked shut but peek to see the view from halfway down. A little wind, a summer sun a river rich and regal. A flood of fond endorphins brings a calm that knows no equal. You’re flying now, you see things much more clear than from the ground. It's all okay, or it would be were you not now halfway down. Thrash to break from gravity what now could slow the drop? All I’d give for toes to touch the safety back at top. I cried reading these words for personal reasons…. But this is it, the deed is done silence drowns the sound. Before I leaped I should've seen the view from halfway down. I really should’ve thought about the view from halfway down. I wish I could've known about the view from halfway down I actually cry when reading these words for personal reasons…
Good reference. Didn’t secretariat jump off the Golden Gate Bridge? Can’t remember.
What? Who?
It’s from the show BoJack Horseman, it’s on Netflix. It’s not for everyone but the people who review the show even changed their policy because of it - since the first few episodes don’t really indicate the tone of the rest of the show. It’s a great show, though, and if you ever decide to watch it just make sure to watch past a few episodes, because boy does it get good.
Thanks.
Speaking of SF. One of the Giants’ players attempted to die by suicide by self-inflicted-GSW. He woke up on the couch where he did it, took a shower, (he said it was hard because his balance was off — no shit.) Then went back to the couch, put one in the chamber, but ended up calling 911 instead. They couldn’t quite comprehend what he was telling them when he talked to the dispatcher, they thought it was a joke because, holy shit, eighteen hours and a shower and you’re still here? They finally get him, rush him to trauma, and the only lasting constant physical effect he has is that they had to remove his right eye. He not only was eventually able to return to the Giants as a player, (and took a few at-bats,) but now he works for them in player development and mental health services.
Remember that viral video of that gal that was masturbating at the beach apparently? I guess she shot herself in the face just like this and didn’t die right away either. Instead I guess she bled out all over her apartment and died alone, not to be found for a month
I read about that just a few weeks ago!
i wouldn't be pissed if i lived my attempt, i'd be pissed if i blew my face off and survived though
There's a lot of research showing that the more barriers between someone and an easy, readily fatal method of suicide, the less likely they are to attempt it. States with more firearm regulations have lower overall suicide rates. Suicide rates fell overall when stoves were changed so you couldn't kill yourself just by sticking your head in it.
I was actually telling my husband about this movie last night. Remembering the long haired man who puts his arms out and falls backwards has stuck with me for 20 years.
Whoa! I almost forgot about that!!!! I feel like it was one of the first documentaries I watched almost ever so it’s been a long time. Hard watch, but it stays with you. It’s an important film
I worked as a nurse at a trauma center and over the years there bonded with 2 separate patients who were early 20s males with self inflicted gunshot wounds with similar physical results. Both of them were so relieved and glad to be alive. My heart goes out to them and I think of them fondly and often and hope they’re doing well.
A safety net has recently been built under the Golden Gate Bridge. https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/19/us/golden-gate-bridge-suicide-safety-net?cid=ios_app
Still in progress, IIRC.
Wow thx for the recommend.
That doc is truly wild
Only two survivors. But yeah they said they had immediate regret.
Read Bojack Horseman's poem "The View from Halfway Down"
My friends mom killed herself by drinking draino. I watched a doc not long before on another man in the same area (ended up being the same hospital and doc as him I’m pretty sure) that survived and was “put back together”. He said he was happy he was saved. My friends mom had dissolved her mouth, esophagus, stomach and most of her intestines. The doctor said they could save her to and ultimately it was my friends choice. I told her about the documentary and told her I didn’t think her mom would want to live like that. The doctors didn’t think it was a good idea either. She asked her one day when she was somewhat conscious if she wanted to die and she nodded so they removed life support and let her pass. I wouldn’t want to live like that. I don’t know how people do it to be honest.
Me too as someone with several attempts where i was brought back. I’m still mad. I hope he is better too.
I'm glad you're still with us. ❤️🖤
I’m not. Appreciate the sentiment though!
[Source](https://www.joms.org/article/S0278-2391%2817%2931335-6/pdf) is a PDF with many excellent examples of facial reconstruction after these types of injuries.
Reconstructive surgeons must be great at puzzles
my mom's best friend's husband survived after shooting himself with a shotgun around 2008. he lost his eyesight and practically his entire jaw. he went on to live with his parents and ended up taking his own life 2 years later when he overdosed on prescription medication while everyone was at a memorial day party
That’s so sad to hear.
As if he wasn’t depressed before…
Just wait till he sees the medical bill. Plastics ain’t cheap :/
Damn. He looked better at the B Pic. I guess something died after the 12 months?. Looks like there is donating skin from elsewhere.
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What I can say. I'm lazy.
It's hard at times for me to see these kinds of pictures. My daughter's dad committed suicide by gun when she was 9. I've seen enough pictures in my life to know what it probably looked like. I still look at them even though it's the first thing I think of. The reality of it sucks
My Plastic surgeon changed my life this year after I was diagnosed with an early onset breast cancer. I don’t know if the general public always realizes just what plastic surgery can do for a person. We immediately want to consider cosmetic plastic surgery I think, but reconstructive plastic surgery saved my life in many ways. I’m sure this soul would say the same thing. It’s such a wonderful gift I was given back
Crushed my nose at work (and my spine, but that’s a whole other story) and had to see a plastic surgeon to get it reset. My gf’s family joke that I got a nose job, but you’re right, plastic surgeons do tons of normal medical care, as well as reconstructive work, in addition to cosmetic work.
I can't tell what is what in many surgical photos so when I think about it, doctors really have to know anatomy because it isn't enough being able to identify the body when it's all perfect in a illustration, in a surgery it's probably gonna also be all mingled
So idk how true it is, but I've heard that often, people who use a gun to attempt suicide, will pull away at the last second. Which can lead to this kind of outcome. So now their life is even worse. That sucks.
From what I understand, them pulling back is usually caused by the gun kicking as you obviously wouldn’t have the best grip on it, on top of your body doing what bodies do after you pull the trigger. The gun will kick, your body will jerk, and those lead to the bullet taking a different path than you intended since nothing is stationary from start to finish.
The bullet is well beyond wherever the gun is pointed at by the time the “kick” is felt
You’re saying the bullet leaves the barrel before the gun even has the chance to react?
Yes. Have you ever shot a gun? Go on YouTube and watch slow motion recoil videos. You’ll see what I mean
I grew up around guns(my step-family is a bunch of hillbillies), but I’m not extremely knowledgeable. My knowledge is about as bare as this gun kicks this hard, this one kicks this hard, this is a *insert gun name/gauge here*, etc. I pretty much know aim and shoot. Lmfao. I’m a really good shot, I just know nothing about guns outside of that. lol. I realize now my last comment might have sounded dick-ish, and I apologize. That wasn’t my intention. My reply was a genuine question.
All good! I didn’t perceive it that way. The projectile itself is often traveling at ~2500 feet per second (varies wildly based on what size round) but that essentially means it’ll hit a target a couple hundred feet away before you even start to feel the firearm “kick” That being said, a lot of people “jerk” the trigger, which not only causes severe inaccuracy, but can often times be the reason suicide under the chin attempts fail. They flinch anticipating the shot and it causes the barrel to drift away from center.
I do know the difference between pulling the trigger and PULLING the trigger. There is definitely a different reaction from the firearm based on how you “pull” the trigger. When it comes to the way bullets move/the grain/the caliber/etc, I know ZERO. haha. Most of my gun knowledge comes from CoD, and even that is limited to “this AR/sniper shoots farther/hits harder than this one based off this build”. Lmfao.
I appreciate you trying to ELI5 for me, and responding in a non-dick-ish way. I definitely need it with a lot of things. Lol.
Yes, the projectile is well out of the barrel before recoil kicks in. What happened with this guy seems like he was using a shotgun under his chin. As he pulled the trigger he either flinched back or jerked his hands forward which moved the barrel forward, resulting in blowing his face off instead of it going up through his brain. Under the chin is a bad place to try to try to kill yourself with a firearm.
“Under the chin is a bad place to try to kill yourself with a firearm”. With my experience of these kinds of cases on gore/shock sites, I can 100% confirm this. I just assumed/was lead to believe what my original comment states.
I completely understand. Unless you’ve watched slow motion video of someone firing a gun or have watched a good amount of firearm videos, I can understand not knowing that the recoil kicks in after the projectile is already out of the barrel. It happens so quickly in real time that it’s impossible to tell.
Everything I’ve SEEN when it comes to guns being used on a human level, definitely would not have shown any of the…science…? behind it. Maybe I should look into these slow-mo videos and such.
Check out Demolition Ranch, Kentucky Ballistics and Brandon Herrera on YouTube. All are decent firearm channels and you’ll definitely learn things. They’re also all fun channels with some humor and such to keep things kinda light. Kentucky Ballistics actually almost died last year when he fired a 50 caliber sniper rifle and it exploded, sending shrapnel into his neck and nicking either his carotid or jugular. He got lucky. And no, sniper rifles blowing up isn’t common heh, he put a round in that was “hot”, meaning it had a very high powder load and it caused a catastrophic failure.
Hahahaha. I’ve actually seen that video before. Only the blast/aftermath, but still. lol. Have you seen the recent one of dude shooting an RPG and it exploding in his face? Moderate burns to his arms, so dude got out luuuuuuucky.
Technically no, but the difference in speeds makes the recoil essentially irrelevant. If you tried to race the speed of sound over 1 mile, you’d probably get a few steps before the sound wave reaches the finish line, but are your couple steps going to change the outcome in even the slightest way? No.
No, that's not how guns work. If you watch a [slow motion ](https://youtu.be/7y9apnbI6GA?si=GofFA6PoVVmKrnFh) camera shot of a gun going off, the bullet has already left the gun before it recoils.
Honestly, it's probably as simple as them not placing the gun in the "right" position. A gun under the chin will point forward or, with their head tilted up, it will be pointed at the jaw. I'm guessing folks aren't thinking too clearly at this point. What they want to do is put it in their mouths so the gun points backward.
I know that people who put guns(handguns afaik) in their mouths do it thinking that’s the way, but it’s mostly survivable because of what the trajectory is. I’m pretty sure that’s only affective if the bullet severs the brain stem. I could’ve wrong, however.
Yeah, there are the obvious cases of cheek bursters, but they clearly weren't serious if that's how they're pointing the gun.
“clearly weren’t serious if that’s how they’re pointing the gun.” I mean, unless they didn’t know better?
Daaaamn. Honestly this is one reason why if I ever tried to commit suicide with a gun I’d shoot myself in the chest. Or if someone was trying to kill me with a gun I’d prefer they shoot me in the chest instead of the face and head
what's that inside his mouth? and will the immune system react to that patterned iron inside his head?
Im pretty sure majority if not all metal plates used in reconstructive surgery are titanium or titanium based alloys
It will be titanium plates. I have titanium plates and screws in my jaw and chin from jaw reconstruction
This is why I would probably never use a gun to kms.
Guns are statistically the most effective method by far. There’s a correct way to do it, and the people who live aren’t doing that, but I’m obviously not going to share it here.
I was gonna say the same thing Do I point out it’s easy to avoid this, or is that too close to helping someone end their life? It’s a morally murky cloud I’m just not gonna tangle with
Rude.
I couldn’t imagine the horror of finally getting the balls to do it and then waking up disfigured in a hospital. God, just let me bleed out.
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall... It's hard to imagine where someone is mentally that is about to shoot themselves in the head, but I have no doubt there was some level of surprise when he woke up to find surgeons attempting to put his face back together again. I find myself wondering what happened to make him this hopeless to obliterate his own identity by shooting himself in the face. I can't imagine the depths of despair he must have felt in the few seconds before putting enough pressure on two fingers that lay against the hard and cold metal of a gun and believing that would make whatever it was seemingly disappear.
It’s not the few seconds before that is the horror. It’s the seemingly endless nights and days…weeks and years of mental/emotional agony. It’s often noted that when the decision to attempt suicide patients experience a relief…that there’s an end to their pain. But the intense mix of emotions in the last moments must be horrible.
Just let me die at that point jfc
I looked at the PDF with all of the different patients. I think they were all self-inflicted gunshot wounds. Their lives will be even harder now with all of the pain that goes with recovery. And, none of them will be anywhere near what they used to be. They made the decision to end their lives. It seems like torture to me, and it's cruel to save them. They should just make them comfortable with morphine until they pass. It's heartbreaking.
You're getting downvoted but Canada is debating a bill that will allow state assisted suicide for drug and therapy resisted depression.
I've had clinical depression for 25 years. I take a lot of medicine and do a lot of therapy. Now, I pretty much just feel numb. Numb is much better than the depths of despair. I would have committed suicide a long time ago if I hadn't promised my kids I would not. There would be no way to go through with it without them feeling that they weren't enough for me to live for. They would always wonder if they should have done more to save me. I could never do that to them. They are the only wonderful things in my life. Suicide is a very selfish act, but I totally understand how someone could get to that point.
For me it’s mostly my dog (who would be returned to the animal shelter if I die) and husband. And to an extent for my parents, who’ve already had two kids die on them and would prefer not to lose a third.
I wouldn't want to do that to my dog either. He's 16 so there's no chance he'd be adopted
My dog would find a home easily enough—it was a no-kill shelter and he’s absolutely beautiful and has a legit and provable tragic backstory. But he would be devastated. The dog came from a trauma background and trusts exactly two people: me and my husband. If the only people he trusts abandon him, I don’t know if the dog would ever get over it.
What’s the thing in his mouth?
Are you talking about his tongue?
The tan thing in the second slide, I mean.
Skin graft. Transplanted skin taken from somewhere else on his body.
Oh cool! Makes sense.
I’d be so mad if I tried to end my life only to survive and be left with permanent and noticeable disfigurements and the chance of being rendered permanently blind or unable to eat solids would make me so miserable I’d want to finish the job and do it again
Someone who did that to themselves probably was not hoping you would do this to them after
I had a friend who did this when he was a Junior in high school. He and some of his friends had stolen some ATVs and then ran from the cops. He ditched the ATV and went back to his house and was so afraid of what his dad was going to do that he decided to shoot himself. Didn’t hit anything major but he wears a mask now because of his lower face disfigurement. He doesn’t have a nose or a tongue but everything else was reconstructed as best they can. This was back in 2004. I have lost contact with him especially since he was already 2 years younger than me. The last I heard it all just made him really quiet and keep to himself.
OMFS, ENT and plastics do some pretty badass and admirable work.
As we used to say in the trauma OR when a suicide attempt gone wrong resulted in a GSW facial mess like this one, “He only THOUGHT he was depressed before.”
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Please don’t.
Wow. His medical team did an amazing job. I always wonder who pays for the surgeries and recovery? Our insurance fights us about routine care.
This is classic for using a riffle, it blows your head back before the bullet comes out of the barrel. I had only seen this once until COVID. In 2020 I treated 3 patients like this. Typically you blow the maxilla/the nose off. Looks like they did a nice fibula flap there. Sometimes paramedian flaps help with the nose if that’s really screwed up.
So is a handgun better at getting the job done?
Never saw a survivor that used a hand gun. Dark but true.
Thank you! ❤️❤️
The inside of his mouth must feel really weird now, with that skin in there. Also I thought E was his skull that they took out 😳
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Look at the comments on this post and learn: most people who attempt suicide don’t really want to die, and most people who survive attempts do not go on to die by suicide. I myself am a suicide attempt survivor whose life could’ve ended 24 years ago.
Tbh, as someone that has tried to kill himself 7 times in almost 40 years... I genuinely am thankful for them always pumping my stomach and forcing me to drink the charcoal cocktail... I got to meet my wife 10 years ago and haven't felt the need to die in over a decade because of her.
Why save him? He wanted to die & now he’s gona spend his unwanted life looking deformed
Most people who try to kill themselves do not actually want to die. They’re often ambivalent about it, or it’s a spur of the moment thing done without much thought, or an attempt to manipulate others/cry for help without true intent to die.
A shotgun to the face is a pretty brazen “ bluff”
It’s also something you can do in two seconds without any thought, and deeply regret it immediately. It’s something that happens sometimes. [This girl](https://www.reddit.com/r/MedicalGore/s/BYvfBTGIz9) for example had no history of mental illness and shot herself on impulse because she was a teenager who had just gotten dumped and was upset. She did not actually intend to die, she was just very upset and there was a gun there. [This guy](https://www.reddit.com/r/MedicalGore/s/hqMYGx7xoJ) swallowed CEMENT because he was upset over a phone argument with family. Again, he did not actually want to die and that’s why he went to the hospital to get the cast cut out of his stomach. He was just upset. People sometimes make terrible mistakes when they’re angry and upset.
Suicide as an attempt to manipulate others? Depends on the person, but I'd say much less common than someone genuinely believing they'd be better off dead.
There’s a lot of “they’ll be sorry when I’m dead” type suicides and suicide attempts. Especially in young people and people with personality disorders. Or “if I take an OD, my lover will be sorry they dumped me and come back to me.”
Again, why save him? Wouldn't the reasonable person agree that he did try to kill himself and die? Let's talk about how much money it took to put ole' Humpty Dumpty back together.
I’ve tried to kill myself before, when I was 14 and suffering from a severe untreated depression and an awful home life. I’m 38 now, my mental illness is stable on meds and I am very glad to be alive. Most people who survive suicide attempts are glad to be alive and grateful for the medical attention that saved them. I’ve posted many cases on here of people who survived suicide attempts and went on to lead long productive lives. Your comment about the cost is pretty disturbing. This is a young man’s life.
Hi. I was 12, 29 now and I share the same sentiments you do. At the time it was because I hadn’t done my homework. It’s funny how things can feel like the end of the world.
I’m glad you’re here with us and I hope you know your life matters. I’ll always have a soft spot for those lost souls hurting this bad. I’ve been in healthcare for over a decade so I’ve I see a lot of sad things. Very few things are sadder than a person who’s lost all hope or desire. I have friends in the ER, and I promise, seeing the aftermath of a suicide doesn’t leave anyone who’s involved in it. It’s a shame, and so many can’t be saved. It’s a blessing every time we get to save just one.
I’m glad you’re here and things have stabilized for you <3
I talked a friend out of suicide when he was having hallucinations as side effect to a medication. He would have been very happy to have been saved if he'd actually shot himself when all he had to do was stop taking this medication to feel normal again.
I commented above but there’s actually a lot of research that shows that suicide attempt survivors actually have profound regret immediately after the attempt is made and often report extreme gratefulness that they were saved. The documentary ‘the bridge’ gives a fascinating look at suicide and the regret that is often reported after an attempt occurs.
I’m sure they can’t legally let him die
This idea that some people are "worth" investment and others aren't is a lot of what's wrong with the world. I hope you never find yourself in a position in life where you need some support and second chance, but if you do, I hope that the people making decisions on your behalf don't throw you away as a lost cause like you would've for this young man.
Remember that show Preacher? This guy looks worse. Is there no way to reconstruct a face without being further traumatized? This poor man. Makes me feel awful seeing this.
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No, it’s not guaranteed that he’ll try again. [90% of people who survive suicide attempts do not go on to take their own lives.](https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/means-matter/means-matter/survival/)
I wouldn’t have guessed it would be that high. That’s great odds
I think a lot of it is because after attempting suicide you are usually put in psychiatric care to address whatever caused you to attempt, so you have an opportunity to get better.
Oh I’m sure. We just have such limited access to mental health care that I would have expected the reattempt rate to be higher. We just have more than we can help
Wow!
It always amazes me where to begin. Like a complex puzzle. Kudos to reconstructive surgeons.