A friend tried to commit suicide twice this week. 

Most recently, and the one I can definitely prove, around 4am on Monday, they were doing Google searches for easy ways to overdose. They proceeded to drive drunk to Walmart at 5am and bought razor blades, cough syrup, and bandages. In the parking lot, they proceeded to cut themselves and drank the cough syrup in hopes they would stop breathing before bleeding out. They woke up a few hours later, bandaged themselves up and drove home.  

This friend's entire night was documented in great detail on various social media sites. I presented the social media posts to my friend's counseling office. They reached out to them, but my friend denied everything, and the counselor dropped it at that.

I contacted Walmart myself and had no trouble obtaining a copy of the receipt for razor blades, cough syrup, and bandages. The time and date match up perfectly with the social media posts. I asked to see video footage, but they require police involvement for that. 

If I contact the police to obtain video, are they legally required to start an investigation? Will they put my friend on suicide watch or commit them to an inpatient service? 

Being forced into therapy for a few days will do nothing for my friend, as they are incredibly skilled at lying and putting on a facade for extended periods of time. A few days on suicide watch will not change anything, as my friend does not want help for themselves. I would be afraid that getting police involved would just drive my friend even further into a dark place and the next suicide attempt.

I'm just trying to get evidence together because no one close to my friend believes me. Not their family, not their mental health counselor, no one. I've known this person for several years, and they have had depression and suicidal ideations for the majority of the time I've known them.
user
Friend tried to commit suicide twice this week, their social media evidence matches the social media posts perfectly.
assistant
A friend tried to commit suicide twice this week. 

Most recently, and the one I can definitely prove, around 4am on Monday, they were doing Google searches for easy ways to overdose. They proceeded to drive drunk to Walmart at 5am and bought razor blades, cough syrup, and bandages. In the parking lot, they proceeded to cut themselves and drank the cough syrup in hopes they would stop breathing before bleeding out. They woke up a few hours later, bandaged themselves up and drove home.  

This friend's entire night was documented in great detail on various social media sites. I presented the social media posts to my friend's counseling office. They reached out to them, but my friend denied everything, and the counselor dropped it at that.

I contacted Walmart myself and had no trouble obtaining a copy of the receipt for razor blades, cough syrup, and bandages. The time and date match up perfectly with the social media posts. I asked to see video footage, but they require police involvement for that. 

If I contact the police to obtain video, are they legally required to start an investigation? Will they put my friend on suicide watch or commit them to an inpatient service? 

Being forced into therapy for a few days will do nothing for my friend, as they are incredibly skilled at lying and putting on a facade for extended periods of time. A few days on suicide watch will not change anything, as my friend does not want help for themselves. I would be afraid that getting police involved would just drive my friend even further into a dark place and the next suicide attempt.

I'm just trying to get evidence together because no one close to my friend believes me. Not their family, not their mental health counselor, no one. I've known this person for several years, and they have had depression and suicidal ideations for the majority of the time I've known them.
user
Friend tried to commit suicide twice. Social media posts from day before show they attempted it. Police won't
assistant