Is suicide a personal choice of an inevitable result of mental pain// distress

I lost my father to suicide, I've dealt with suicidal ideation myself. 

In my opinion, it's a personal choice but those who make that choice are not in their right minds, so ut's not fair to say it was their decision as that doesn't take into account the effects mental illness and depression can have. 

I know in my case, I began to look at suicide as an escape, my only escape. I could not believe life would get any better. I'd suffered trauma, depression etc before and the latter has been with me as long as I remember, so I'm by no means inexperienced in dealing with such things. But that was the first time I felt there was only really one way to end it. 

Thankfully, as a result of counselling and time away from work I'm no longer there. I am by no means better, but I am at least able to focus on the positives and take control of my life again. Before, it felt like I had no control over anything but ending my life, ending my stress and pain. 

The way I look at it is most people give suicide about two seconds thought, if that. Usually they receive and recycle their views on it, which is why you hear that it's 'selfish' or 'cowardly'. These claims are BS, it's neither of those things and the people who believe it is don't know what they're talking about. 

I knew, even as a kid, my dad was ill. But despite that illness, he got up, went to work, provided for my family, fought those battles every day not for himself, but for us. He was a warrior. The fact that he eventually lost a fight doesn't mean he didn't have a multitude of victories to his name in a battle against his issues. It would be more selfish of me to expect a loved one to live with such pain in order to not make my life harder. It was not selfish of him to take the route he did. It was not cowardly. He was a victim of an illness, end of.

Views around suicide do seem to have become more considered these days but those old, BS opinions still exist, unfortunately. But I would never recommend or support someone thinking of taking that route, and I'd do everything in my power to get them help, even if it meant sectioning someone. I know from experience it's possible to come back from it so while I can understand the pain and the feeling that it's the only option, I'd do everything I could to stop someone taking that path, and help them understand they can get better, and they'll be stronger for the experience when they do, in my experience. 

Some good points. I suspect unless you've been there for several months or years, it is not understood. Phoning 999 is not something you can do every day for a few years!

Phoning Samaritan - who do not give any advice - just listen, gives no help

Waiting for things to settle - while shame and humiliation increases - is not helpful

Seeing doctors - who just want to give medication or their own CBT or therapy - is not helpful

Living like this is a burden on everyone...

And then when the police convict you for asking for help ..... that seems a death sentence

Some good points. I suspect unless you've been there for several months or years, it is not understood. Phoning 999 is not something you can do every day for a few years!

Phoning Samaritan - who do not give any advice - just listen, gives no help

Waiting for things to settle - while shame and humiliation increases - is not helpful

Seeing doctors - who just want to give medication or their own CBT or therapy - is not helpful

Living like this is a burden on everyone...

And then when the police convict you for asking for help ..... that seems a death sentence