Attempted suicide used to be considered as a criminal offense in many countries

Although Europe and most Western countries no longer consider attempted suicide  as a criminal offense, it used to be a time when the state would not be very tolerant.

In the Christian church people who attempted suicide were excommunicated. During the 19th century in Great Britain people would be punished by hanging in case of attempted suicide, as it was deemed to be equivalent to murder.

In the United States the state imposes penalty in the case of an attempted suicide, whereas it remains a criminal offense in many Islamic countries.