Did I do the right thing?

[Raquelio]

Well I'm not sure if this is the appropriate category to be writing about this in but here is what happened....I went to city hall for the free WiFi and I sat down by a statue, as I was about to log on when a man approached me, his head is shaved he is scarred, he seemed very nervous, and he had a Southern accent. He sat down and offered me a cigarette I told him no and he asked how old I was, I told him I was thirteen and he said, "I started smoking long before you were born" and the conversation escalated from there, eventually he admitted to me he was schizophrenic and bipolar, he cuts himself and he had a really dark childhood. I asked him why he was at city hall and he said he just got out of the insane asylum and he was planning on committing suicide tonight, we talked for about an hour and eventually he decided to turn himself in, he's in the police station right now and to be honest i'm terrified. Did I do the right thing by talking to him? Could I have saved him?

 

[Meer]

If you convinced him, or let him convince himself, to go to the police, and he's there so he doesn't kill himself, you probably did.

 

[nedenom]

I'd say you did the right thing, how could it be wrong? I he really wishes to commit suicide, then he'll get his chance later - or maybe he will thank you that he didn't. I think he approached you because he wanted you to talk him out of it.

 

[DetachedRetina]

Wow, this is the type of thing that doesn't happen often.

What else were you supposed to do? I think you did the right thing.

 

[MissQuote]

The mother in me says that if you are thirteen years old you really shouldn't be talking to schizophrenic strangers more than twice your age that have just been released form the asylum and offer you cigarettes.

I am glad you talked him into seeking help, but still. Think about your own safety in the future, please. It isn't your job to help adults. If it were one of your peers I would not say this, but adults are not the responsibility of adolescents.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

I think the more urgent matter is whether talking for an hour with an admitted bipolar schizophrenic who offered you a cigarette was safe and sensible.

EDIT: Yes, what MissQuote said.