Suicide Attempt — Tag Meaning
A canonical warning tag indicating a character attempts suicide within the work or its immediate backstory. Many fics carrying it are aftermath stories about hospitalization, the reactions of loved ones, and the slow work of getting better.
What to Expect From "Suicide Attempt" Fics
The attempt may be depicted or may open the story as a recent event; survival is typical but not guaranteed. Check for Recovery or Hurt No Comfort tags to gauge the arc.
How to find Suicide Attempt fics on AO3
On AO3, click any tag to see every work that uses it, then refine with the "Filters" sidebar — combine it with your fandom or ship, set a rating, or exclude tags you don't want. See our AO3 filtering guide for the full walkthrough.
Browse "Suicide Attempt" works on AO3Popular Fics Tagged "Suicide Attempt"
Real examples from AO3's most-kudosed works:
How To Save A Life (The Cannibal-Friendly Handbook)
by Kittendiamore
In A Sky Of A Million Stars (Who Cares If One More Light Goes Out?)
by Stringlish
better luck next time
by nauticalwarrior
Nutricula
by Chrysanthos
The Sensible Thing To Do
by lovelysandlonelys
Is This The Way It Ends Now?
by Seastar98
Related Tags
Suicidal Thoughts
A canonical tag disclosing that a character experiences suicidal ideation, whether passive weariness with living or active planning. It warns for the interior experience specifically, distinct from tags covering attempts or completed suicide.
Tag guide →
Implied/Referenced Suicide
A canonical tag for works where suicide is discussed, remembered, or part of the backstory but not depicted. A character grieving a loss to suicide, or a past attempt mentioned in conversation, are typical uses.
Tag guide →
Hospitals
The non-AU hospital tag: canon characters in waiting rooms, recovery wards, and bedside chairs after the plot's violence catches up with someone. Where medical AUs change professions, this tag keeps everything canon and adds fluorescent lighting — vigils, bad vending machine coffee, and feelings confessed to unconscious patients who turn out to be awake.
Tag guide →
Recovery
Tags stories about the long road back — from trauma, addiction, injury, grief, or canon events that left a character shattered. Recovery fic tends to be patient and realistic about setbacks, and many writers use it to give characters the healing their source material skipped over.
Tag guide →
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