What happens when you tell your doctor you're suicidal?

[Gingerbread Latte]

So since Christmas I've been feeling suicidal on and off but last week I very nearly overdosed. I thought that it was period related and I possibly had PMDD since I do feel more down during that time of the month but my period has gone now and I'm still feeling suicidal.

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow just to get some blood test results but since that won't take too long I've thought about telling my doctor how bad things have gotten.

I'm wondering what will happen when I do tell them though? Obviously since I'm over 18 they can't tell my parents but I'm worried they'll try and make me stay somewhere overnight or something. It's my final year at university and I'm doing a huge project that I can't afford to lose any time on and I don't want to be sectioned or locked up or something.

I know they can only keep you if they feel you're a real danger to yourself but what would make me a danger to myself? I mean, I have a rough idea of how I'd kill myself but it's not like I have every detail planned out...

Has anybody got any experiences they can share with me preferably before my appointment tomorrow? (preferably UK based as well since that'll be more relevant to me).

ps. if I don't get much advice before my appointment please leave this thread open since I may make a new appointment at a later date to discuss this if I don't feel confident enough bringing it up tomorrow, thanks mods!

[RadioSerenade]

Well, you have got the idea. Doctors have mandatory reporting requirements like anyone else in a position of care, so whenever they hear you are feeling suicidal, they will start to swing into motion with a risk analysis. They will ask you a number of questions, and have a chat wiht you, like normally, it's not like they automatically go all formal questioning mode, but they will get some more information, about whether you have planned anything, have you talked to anyone else etc.

This is just to determine the level of reaction required, very basic at this point. If they believe you are a danger to yourself, or if they believe a refusal to act will result in a suicide or a suicide attempt, then they will contact paramedics and have you sent to hospital. After that, I cannot comment, because I don't know the Scottish health system well enough.

They will probably keep you overnight and for psychological observations to determine the level of progression, level of danger and type of response needed.

Please note, this is all a very natural process, they will talk to you to make you feel comfortable and inform you of everything, explaining every step of the process.

...

Time to take a step back.

Now if, and it sounds like the case, you are not found to be a danger to yourself, you will most likely be asked to speak to your psychologist or psychiatrist, have any medications and treatments reviewed, reminded of support services and sent on your way.

Now the latter is a VERY natural process.

All the best,

H.

P.S. Please do not let the mandatory reporting requirements of your country get in the way of asking for help and raising the alarm if you are suicidal. Reveal as much to your support network as you feel comfortable with but try not to retract.

P.P.S. Reminder: I am not from Scotland, procedures may vary in very small ways.