Do I have a legal obligation to report someone suicidal in Canada

[elem]

Hi all,
Hypothetically, if I had a friend who was suicidal and had informed me of an intention to commit suicide, would I have a legal obligation to report their intent to kill themselves to an authority?

I should clarify, I am strongly in favour of the right to choose whether or not you want to be alive, and would support someone's decision to do so. However, as an immigrant, I do not want to get into legal trouble, or get arrested for failing to report this sort of thing. I specifically need information related to Canada. Additionally, does citizenship of a suicidal person matter at all?

I would not want to have to do this, but were such a situation to present itself, I would have to be more concerned about myself. I of course would ask that any person who might have suicidal feelings not let me know.

Thank you kindly for any information you may have.

 

[Stillnotsure]

To answer that, you have to tell me your profession. You see, in the US, certain people are mandated reporters. That means they have a legal obligation to report a person threatening suicide. Everyone else falls outside of that. I'm sure Canada has the same laws.

 

[Final Escape]

Hi all,
Hypothetically, if I had a friend who was suicidal and had informed me of an intention to commit suicide, would I have a legal obligation to report their intent to kill themselves to an authority?

I should clarify, I am strongly in favour of the right to choose whether or not you want to be alive, and would support someone's decision to do so. However, as an immigrant, I do not want to get into legal trouble, or get arrested for failing to report this sort of thing. I specifically need information related to Canada. Additionally, does citizenship of a suicidal person matter at all?

I would not want to have to do this, but were such a situation to present itself, I would have to be more concerned about myself. I of course would ask that any person who might have suicidal feelings not let me know.

Thank you kindly for any information you may have.

I would say just don't do this to anyone, unless your job requires it. If you want to help a suicidal person just talk with them, be helpful but please for the love of god don't call law enforcement to take them to the psych unit. Go check on them yourself but out of being a caring person do not send the cops to someone's house because they feel suicidal. Sometimes you can do more harm then good by sending cops to someone's home especially if they aren't expecting it. I had someone do this to me and it ruined my trust to even be around her even though I know she thought she's being helpful. If I can't trust you to confide with my suicide ideation I won't get close to u or we will not be very close in general. I need to be able to vent to a friend who won't overreact and do that to me. The cops tried to do a search of my apartment and interrogated me for 30 mins or better. If I had consented to a search they would have found weed which in that state is illegal. This is why I think it's pretty messed up to damn near get your friend arrested just because they are contemplating suicide.

 

[elem]

To answer, I am a student not a health professional so if that sort of restriction doesn't apply to the general public then it seems there's nothing to worry about. Suicide was decriminalised in Canada too so I imagine they are a bit more progressive.

Of course, I would never want to do this to anyone. I am not a fan of the police myself to say the least. I just wouldn't want to get deported for not having intervened. Suicide is a choice I trust others to make, and I have no intention to intervene to prevent it if I don't have to, nor would I even try to talk someone out of it unless they asked.

Thanks to all of you for your help on this. I obviously couldn't really go to other online communities about this, and I realise my post may come off as a bit threatening in this community, but it's the only one I feel like I could even propose not intervening in.

 

[Fenty(nal)]

To answer, I am a student not a health professional so if that sort of restriction doesn't apply to the general public then it seems there's nothing to worry about. Suicide was decriminalised in Canada too so I imagine they are a bit more progressive.

Of course, I would never want to do this to anyone. I am not a fan of the police myself to say the least. I just wouldn't want to get deported for not having intervened. Suicide is a choice I trust others to make, and I have no intention to intervene to prevent it if I don't have to, nor would I even try to talk someone out of it unless they asked.

Thanks to all of you for your help on this. I obviously couldn't really go to other online communities about this, and I realise my post may come off as a bit threatening in this community, but it's the only one I feel like I could even propose not intervening in.

There is no legal requirement and you won't be deported. Most likely, no one will even ask you if you knew anything. If anything your school will offer you counselling depending on your age (if you're still in high school vs uni) if your friend decides to take their life. Just keep that bit of information to yourself.

 

[Rsuicidal]

Hi all,
Hypothetically, if I had a friend who was suicidal and had informed me of an intention to commit suicide, would I have a legal obligation to report their intent to kill themselves to an authority?

I should clarify, I am strongly in favour of the right to choose whether or not you want to be alive, and would support someone's decision to do so. However, as an immigrant, I do not want to get into legal trouble, or get arrested for failing to report this sort of thing. I specifically need information related to Canada. Additionally, does citizenship of a suicidal person matter at all?

I would not want to have to do this, but were such a situation to present itself, I would have to be more concerned about myself. I of course would ask that any person who might have suicidal feelings not let me know.

Thank you kindly for any information you may have.

You can be held accountable if you ENCOURAGE someone to die yes. Unless you are a professional who has the means to either asses, or get that person to a psych assesment as in public service, certain mental health volunteers, some places where first aid trained persons must respond under penalty of law, or in a role like therapist then I am not seeing where anyone can be held accountable.
A friend reaching out but not knowing what exactly to do in my opinion, not expertise, isnt under the encouragement area of law.

 

[Stillnotsure]

To answer, I am a student not a health professional so if that sort of restriction doesn't apply to the general public then it seems there's nothing to worry about. Suicide was decriminalised in Canada too so I imagine they are a bit more progressive.

Of course, I would never want to do this to anyone. I am not a fan of the police myself to say the least. I just wouldn't want to get deported for not having intervened. Suicide is a choice I trust others to make, and I have no intention to intervene to prevent it if I don't have to, nor would I even try to talk someone out of it unless they asked.

Thanks to all of you for your help on this. I obviously couldn't really go to other online communities about this, and I realise my post may come off as a bit threatening in this community, but it's the only one I feel like I could even propose not intervening in.

Yes you should be safe. As long as you arent caught sending messages to a person encouraging their suicide that is.

Nurses, Doctors, Counselors, Firefighters, Police, EMS, teachers, security are all mandated reporters.

As to calling the police on you friend, here is my two cents. That is the best course of action to take when someone is in acute crisis mode and has said they are going to commit suicide. I know! Before anyone jumps on me think about it. What else are they supposed to do. There are no other resources available in society for these situations other than calling the police, and sending the person to the hospital on a 72 hour hold.

I would say just don't do this to anyone, unless your job requires it. If you want to help a suicidal person just talk with them, be helpful but please for the love of god don't call law enforcement to take them to the psych unit. Go check on them yourself but out of being a caring person do not send the cops to someone's house because they feel suicidal. Sometimes you can do more harm then good by sending cops to someone's home especially if they aren't expecting it. I had someone do this to me and it ruined my trust to even be around her even though I know she thought she's being helpful. If I can't trust you to confide with my suicide ideation I won't get close to u or we will not be very close in general. I need to be able to vent to a friend who won't overreact and do that to me. The cops tried to do a search of my apartment and interrogated me for 30 mins or better. If I had consented to a search they would have found weed which in that state is illegal. This is why I think it's pretty messed up to damn near get your friend arrested just because they are contemplating suicide.

I've been giving what you said thought too. You are being unfair to your friend. Most of society doesn't know what if feels like to have our mental handicaps, they don't know what it feels like to want to die. When we tell a friend or family member that we feel this way, they are afraid. They care enough about you to try to stop you. Not out of spite or hate, but out of love. It was not fair of you to burden your friend with your suicidal ideation and expect her to do nothing. Now she's being punished for trying to save you in the only way that is available to her. You need to realize she did the right thing. No, it's not what you wanted to have happen, but that is the only option. If you are brave enough, reach out to her. tell her you're sorry, and thankful she cared enough about you to try for you.

I understand going to the hospital and having the police show up and all that doesnt work to fix us. It is a broken system. I wont begrudge you that. Someday I hope they find a better way. All of you need to be aware, that if you tell someone that cares about you that you want to die, you are forcing them to act on your behalf. It is a huge responsibility. So either tell people and deal with the emotions and consequences that follow, or do not tell people and nothing will change.

 

[Dwellinglifeless]

You don't have to do anything ever

 

[PDAnnie2610]

Exactly the reason why I won't ever tell anyone when I'm seriously going to board the bus. I'll send my goodbyes and off I go.

 

[Sweet emotion]

No you don't do that

 

[tiggles2000]

Nurses, Doctors, Counselors, Firefighters, Police, EMS, teachers, security are all mandated reporters.

I live in Australia and am classed as a mandated reporter even at work as a chef in a nursing home, so that shows you may be, even if it seems unlikely.