I've been through I don't know how many suicide awareness briefs, but I never thought I'd have to use any of it. Tonight a guy I was deployed with got drunk, broke down, and told me the only reason he hadn't killed himself was because he didn't have the courage to do it and that he didn't expect to be around much longer. A friend and I eventually got him to the VA hospital, where he ended up passing out.

They always taught us the ACE acronym (ask, care, escort), and we did that tonight.....but my question is, now what? I mean, I can't be at his house every day...and he really didn't want to go, so I'm afraid when he comes around in the hospital later he's gonna be pissed at us to begin with. I never thought about it til now but I really have no idea how to handle this AFTER you take someone to get help. It's not like someone goes into a treatment center and magically walks out in 2 hours carefree. I don't know that he'll even follow up or tell the doctors everything when he's sober.

Anyone here been in this situation before? I don't want to make things worse by dragging him to a hospital and pissing him off every couple months when he says something disconcerting, but I can't just ignore him and hope for the best either. I guess this is just new territory for me and I don't know how to deal with it.

Thanks guys

Short Version -
I was at a friends party when I was 15(Iam in my mid 40s now) and I went home. 2 friends found our buddy, a track star and the son of a wealthy family, in the garage trying to asphyxiate himself in the garage with a car running. They talked him down, put him to bed and went home themselves after being convinced he was ok.
His lifeless body was found the next day in the garage.

Get help for him, no matter what.

OP did get help for him. And although your young friends could have called 911, they did the best they knew how. It's tragic and we all want to do right by our friends, but ultimately, there's no duty to provide perfect care. The suicidal person is ultimately responsible for whether they live or die.

I know you know that and I'm not trying to say you're blaming those kids for anything. I'm just saying it's so important to absolve ourselves when the care we provide proves inadequate in keeping someone alive.

Good and thank you. And, you know I always respect you regardless of my often meaningless babble. You are a good womanapegirl

RIP Farrel

0-5, 17 years, 3 commands...

You did the right thing. He/she can be pissed at you all they want. THEY placed you in that situation, not the other way around. If someone is set on taking their life they will hide and allude attempts to prevent detection/intervention and then carry out the act. I've lost two troops to suicide over the years. Only way I could have prevented it (delayed it) was to place them in straight jackets, in a padded cell, only to release them and have the same outcome. I sit down with my folks and drag out all the difficult situations/decisions they've had to make in their lives regardless of how long they've been on this rock and what level of responsibility they've had. He's got to "ruck up" and beat this temporary setback in his life and drive on. The chaplain (zero career impact) and mental health (little or no career impact) are there. They are the professionals and I've got stacks of saves due to their assistance. Doing nothing will linger with you...forever. Doing something, regardless of outcome, is the RIGHT thing to do. Doing the right thing...is often the most difficult thing to do.