I have mixed feelings about suicide. Like John Stuart Mill, I think that “over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign” and therefore that suicide is a legitimate act. 

We can generally agree that there are different motivations to think about terminating own life, but the great majority of suicides are committed by people with some mental disorder. In this case I don’t think that it’s right to consider suicide a “free” choice, just like for the paranoic it’s not a “free” choice to distrust other people.

I think that a depressed (for example) person that attempts suicide need to be helped, with medication, with therapy, and even narrowing of his/her individual rights.

There are other reason that can lead to suicide. Sometimes ago I posted about the fact that the suicide rate in Greece has doubled in the last tree years. The fact that in the last tree years the economic and financial crisis has hit very badly Greece, is not just a case. I think the socio-economic factors triggered underlying problems, and that many of these people would have not committed suicide without that social situation. Also in this case (and similar cases) I think suicide it’s not a “free” choice, and that those people need help.

I used “free” instead of just free, because I think our actions are always influenced by a multitude of things, many of which we are not aware about.

For the matter “have you ever thought about it” and “would you ever”: yes, I have thought about it, but in intellectual terms, not that I had suicidal thoughts, and yes, I would (but it’s not on my plan).