Incapable Quote by Kay Redfield Jamison
““There is an assumption, in attaching Puritan concepts such as "succesful" and "unsuccesful" to the awful, final act of suicide, that those who "fail" at killing themselves not only are weak, but incompeent incapable even of getting their dying quite right.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide by Kay Redfield Jamison, 1997
The quote critiques labeling suicide as success or failure, arguing that those who survive are seen as weak or incompetent, which unfairly judges their struggle.
In simple terms: Criticizes judgment of suicide outcomes.
Key Takeaway
Avoid labeling suicide outcomes.
Themes
ethics
mental health
stigma
Mood
empathetic
thoughtful
Type
ethical
educational
When to use this quote
- clinical counseling
- public education
- support groups
Key Concepts
suicide prevention
psychology
social judgment
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we discuss suicide without judgment?
- What language respects survivors?
A Different Perspective
May oversimplify complex mental health issues.
![“...even though [my psychiatrist] understood mor than anyone how much I felt I was losing--in energy, vivacity, and originality--by taking medication, he never was seduced into losing sight of the overall perspective of how costly, damaging, and life threatening my illness was. He was at ease with…” quote by Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/57f/kay-redfield-jamison-1826_life_even-though-my-psychiatrist-understood-m_3399.jpg)
