Discussion Portrayal of suicide on TV fiction

[LivingToLong]

I've just seen an episode of a TV show where the showed someone who ctb by exit bag. I was surprised that not only did the show the set up in pretty good detail but one of the characters explained it a little - saying it was a painless way to go.

You see suicides on TV, usually guns or hanging, but this one seemed almost educational. Quite a surprise (to me) that it was 'allowed'

 

[xXSarac3nSlay3rXx]

I've just seen an episode of a TV show where the showed someone who ctb by exit bag. I was surprised that not only did the show the set up in pretty good detail but one of the characters explained it a little - saying it was a painless way to go.

You see suicides on TV, usually guns or hanging, but this one seemed almost educational. Quite a surprise (to me) that it was 'allowed'

I'm curious as to what you were watching. I've never seen an exit bag suicide portrayed in fiction myself.

 

[FTL.Wanderer]

I've just seen an episode of a TV show where the showed someone who ctb by exit bag. I was surprised that not only did the show the set up in pretty good detail but one of the characters explained it a little - saying it was a painless way to go.

You see suicides on TV, usually guns or hanging, but this one seemed almost educational. Quite a surprise (to me) that it was 'allowed'

Please share the show title. I'd really like to see it... Thanks!

 

[LivingToLong]

Elementary Series 2 Episode 18.

Thinking about it, I recall many years ago watching an episode of The Wire were a guy in prison hung himself with his belt from a door handle. At the time I thought it unlikely but now believe it entirely possible.

Pills are the usual suicide you see, no? That or guns. Or maybe stepping in front of a car/truck/train - or jumping from bridges etc. I'm sure there are more gritty portrayals but the camera usually cuts away before the act itself and simply suggests it.

The exit bag scene was different. You saw the guy, clear plastic oven bag over his head with a tube to a canister. You were told it was helium. Almost an instruction manual. I found it quite chilling and not at all what I was expecting on a show like that. As I said, I was surprised it was allowed.

 

[FTL.Wanderer]

Elementary Series 2 Episode 18.

The exit bag scene was different. You saw the guy, clear plastic oven bag over his head with a tube to a canister. You were told it was helium. Almost an instruction manual. I found it quite chilling and not at all what I was expecting on a show like that. As I said, I was surprised it was allowed.

Thank you! I'll search for that tonight. I'm encouraged that, despite the taboo, suicide is sneaking its way into the mainstream portrayal of day-to-day life.

 

[Nitromask]

I watched a movie on Netflix recently called Paddleton, about a guy with terminal cancer. Dark comedy with Ray Romano. It's about the guy and his friend (Romano) going to get his assisted suicide drug, and his friend not wanting him to take it. I assume it was supposed to be Nembutal but they don't actually mention it by name. It was a bitter liquid and he took antiemetics.

 

[FTL.Wanderer]

I watched a movie on Netflix recently called Paddleton, about a guy with terminal cancer. Dark comedy with Ray Romano. It's about the guy and his friend (Romano) going to get his assisted suicide drug, and his friend not wanting him to take it. I assume it was supposed to be Nembutal but they don't actually mention it by name. It was a bitter liquid and he took antiemetics.

Loving this! The times are a-changing!

 

[Nitromask]

Loving this! The times are a-changing!

I found it quite stressful to watch with my wife considering N is my method lol (She put it on and I had no idea what it was about before we watched it)
Now I worry that she'll think I just copied off the movie and be pissed at Ray Romano or something

 

[FTL.Wanderer]

I found it quite stressful to watch with my wife considering N is my method lol (She put it on and I had no idea what it was about before we watched it)
Now I worry that she'll think I just copied off the movie and be pissed at Ray Romano or something

I can just imagine sitting down next to someone you're very close to as they're watching that... You didn't know what they'd be watching and BAM!!! There it is, drawn out with details. What did Brian Griffin say to Stewie? "Awkwaaaard." Thanks for sharing.

 

[yami9292]

I found it quite stressful to watch with my wife considering N is my method lol (She put it on and I had no idea what it was about before we watched it)
Now I worry that she'll think I just copied off the movie and be pissed at Ray Romano or something

Omg dude, me too, I'm scared to watch a movie or show that has suicide in it with my family especially with hanging as that's my preferred method and have them think I copied or was inspired by it and dismiss the fact that I was dying for my own reasons not because of some shit movie or show lol

 

[seekingoblivion]

Elementary Series 2 Episode 18.

Thinking about it, I recall many years ago watching an episode of The Wire were a guy in prison hung himself with his belt from a door handle. At the time I thought it unlikely but now believe it entirely possible.

Pills are the usual suicide you see, no? That or guns. Or maybe stepping in front of a car/truck/train - or jumping from bridges etc. I'm sure there are more gritty portrayals but the camera usually cuts away before the act itself and simply suggests it.

The exit bag scene was different. You saw the guy, clear plastic oven bag over his head with a tube to a canister. You were told it was helium. Almost an instruction manual. I found it quite chilling and not at all what I was expecting on a show like that. As I said, I was surprised it was allowed.

I used to watch that show a lot but I can't remember that particular episode and scene for some reason. Personally speaking, while I wouldn't say I'd expect a scene such as that to pop up during an episode I also wouldn't be too surprised either.

 

[LivingToLong]

I found it quite stressful to watch with my wife considering N is my method

I hadn't considered that aspect when I started this thread. It must be, at the very least, awkward for some and, as you experienced, stressful for others.

I know my experience, as I think back, was one of almost excitement (and the surprise I mentioned earlier) My partner was beside me and I wanted to explain to them what the exit bag was, how it worked and why helium (and other gases) was used. It almost became a sharing experience! Except I noted that they were a little uncomfortable with it. I think that was because they were aware of my suicidal thoughts... but I obviously don't know. They didn't say anything.

 

[deathplease]

The funny thing about suicide in TV/movies is that is always looks so easy to do..unless someone survives an attempt. I watched both seasons of 13 Reasons Why, for example, and I found it interesting that she died so fast from slitting her wrists. There's only like a 6% chance of dying from that. I wish it was as easy as it is portrayed in TV/movies. We'd all be gone by now.

 

[LivingToLong]

I wish it was as easy as it is portrayed in TV/movies.

They do somewhat gloss over it as a rule, as they do with many things to be fair. Not that I expect them to give a gritty and realistic view of the mechanics; an ABC or 'how to' complete with realistic portrayal of the event itself and its conclusion - successful or otherwise.

If does make you wonder though if anyone has been inspired by such simplistic portrayals to attempt themselves. The 'bottle of pills beside the bed' is a bit of a cliched scene, for instance. Nice clean white bed linen invariably, no vomit from where the body has tried to rid itself of the poisons within, let alone urine and faeces. It's not at all easy to cbt on over the counter meds these days - in most cases it'd probably be a horribly messy and painful death, that's if you managed to cbt that way at all. Fucking up your brain/internal organs is probably the most damage you'd do to yourself. 'No thank you' to that.

Though maybe it's an idea for a film/tv program. Just follow one person in their build up; laying out their motivations and their thinking then tracking them through the research and preparation, right up to and beyond the event itself. It must have been done already I guess. Anyone know?

 

[GeorgeJL]

I found Elementary Series 2 Episode 18 here.

 

[FTL.Wanderer]

Omg dude, me too, I'm scared to watch a movie or show that has suicide in it with my family especially with hanging as that's my preferred method and have them think I copied or was inspired by it and dismiss the fact that I was dying for my own reasons not because of some shit movie or show lol

Good point. I wonder how many people think others merely "copied" someone else's suicide method instead of researched and decided on the method independently?

 

[Nitromask]

The funny thing about suicide in TV/movies is that is always looks so easy to do..

I think in Paddleton they got it quite accurate in this respect. The guy chose not to take an anti-anxiety pill before, and immediately regretted not taking it when he started freaking out after drinking the N. He kind of reacted exactly how I think I would react lol. And the timeline pretty much matched what I have seen in actual N videos.

 

[FTL.Wanderer]

I think in Paddleton they got it quite accurate in this respect. The guy chose not to take an anti-anxiety pill before, and immediately regretted not taking it when he started freaking out after drinking the N. He kind of reacted exactly how I think I would react lol.

This.

 

[Need-a-Place]

The funny thing about suicide in TV/movies is that is always looks so easy to do..unless someone survives an attempt. I watched both seasons of 13 Reasons Why, for example, and I found it interesting that she died so fast from slitting her wrists. There's only like a 6% chance of dying from that. I wish it was as easy as it is portrayed in TV/movies. We'd all be gone by now.

Lol, birdbox. The premise is worldwide suicide. Everyone is offing themselves left and right and I'm just like, fucking seriously?? They make it seem like you can die in 2s the moment you feel like ctb.