Unless you've actually been suicidal, I think it's hard to really understand. I did a research paper on adolescent suicide for my adol. psych class. More girls attempt, but more guys succeed. Mo kinda had it right when she said that it's to get attention... but not in the way you think. It's usually more of a cry for help. The people who really are in danger are those who are quiet about it, because they're less likely to get help.
I'm not afraid of death, and I never have been. The first time I thought about suicide was when I was in 5th grade. I was putting away the dishes and I was wiping off a knife, and I remember thinking, "I could just slice my wrists right now." It kinda scared me, and I wouldn't let myself touch knives for a while. In HS, when I got really nervous or agitated, I'd start running the ends of paper clips up and down my arms. Not enough to actually bleed, but hard enough to leave nice red lines. The first time I overdosed on pills, I bought a box of over the counter sleeping pills and took them all. I woke up in the middle of the night and thought my heart was beating to death, but alas, I woke up the next morning and was just a little bit nautious. I've done it maybe 3 or 4 times since. The last time was in May, and I think that was the closest I've ever gotten. I took maybe 6 or 7 vicoprofin (which is basically like vicodin... prescription painkillers) that i found in the medicine cabinet. I think I talked to Brian for a while on here before I got so light headed, I had to go lie down. I can't explain how it felt... it was like my body was floating away and I was numb. The next day, I couldn't leave my bed. I could barely move a muscle and I had such a bad headache, I couldn't see straight. If I tried to stand up, the world would tip over and I'd fall. My mom just thought I had caught a bad cold... that's the worst part. None of my family had any clue. Except maybe my dog, 'cause he came and curled up with me for a while, which he rarely ever does. I couldn't eat for the next few days, but eventually the medicine left my system.
It's kinda weird to be talking about this on here... but in a way, it's easier than telling my best friend... maybe 'cause the boards are kind of impersonal. It's just hard to talk about... 'cause people are always like "why would you do that? Why would you do something so selfish?" and I just can't answer those questions, really. And the scary thing is... I took less than half of the pills that I found... and they're still in the cabinet at home... and I know that there is a chance that I'll do it again.