I like much of the advice in this article and agree with the broad theme of harm reduction.

However some of the points like "don't panic, do nothing" and "treat a declaration of suicidal intent with nonchalance" do not sit right with me.

I have had multiple suicidal loved ones, all of whom are fortunately still here today and all but one who now believe life to be worth living.

I also have a suicidal friend who says "the only reason I don't kill myself is because it would make my loved ones sad". If I acted to her with nonchalance or "did nothing" it would send the message that I don't care if she lives or dies and would take away one of the reasons she's staying alive.

I also feel if I had acted with nonchalance to my other suicidal friends it wouldn't have helped them. Indeed, my once suicidal partner and my once suicidal best friend both told me my love and support was a major reason they didn't commit suicide and both of them are living beautiful lives today. If I'd been nonchalant about their suicidal feelings and done nothing both might be dead today.

I think there must be a balance that can be set between "not overwhelming the suicidal person with your own feelings, not shaming them for being suicidal" and "being so blasé that they think you don't care if they live or die".

I also find it a very chilling request that one suicidal person had for "people to be with them when they die", I would feel it was a very cruel thing to ask and I would say no. Unless they had a terminal illness and were going to die of that disease anyway, and were using medically assisted suicide. Likewise if it's not medically assisted suicide, watching someone die of suicide and not attempting to save their life can be a criminal act and it's cruel to demand your friends do that for you.