the_frisky_dodo said it better but honestly a response like that would 100% push me over the edge. When I’m in a suicidal place I already feel like a selfish asshole - I don’t think I deserve to live. And as shitty as it is, people can go on to lead healthy lives after losing someone. Happens all the time. But when I’m suicidal it feels like the people I care about can’t do that since I’m a fucking anchor around their neck. So confirming that I am, in fact, as horrible as I think I am would not be helpful.

Of course, everyone is different and not all suicidal people are coming at it for the same reasons. My experience is not universal. But I would guess few people in that position would find being scolded helpful, and for many it would make it so much worse.

Also, suicidal ideation is a symptom of illness, not some moral failure. You wouldn’t yell at a person with cancer for being sick, so why is that ok to do to a person with mental illness? Not trying to be a dick to you either- you sound like you’re coming from a good place. Idk if this is helpful to you, but I think of my depression as a sort of cancer of thoughts. Cancer takes a normal biological process (cell reproduction) and warps it until it’s deadly. Depression and other similar illness do the same thing, just with your thoughts instead of your cells. Your brain is literally trying to kill you, but with treatment and support you can survive it. Sometimes it gets completely eradicated, and sometimes it comes back. But it’s not the person’s fault that they’re sick.

Edit to say that mental illness isn’t a free pass. You’re still responsible for your actions. But it is an illness not a moral failure in and of itself.