I do not think there would be any legal consequences unless possibly if you were a therapist or pdoc or teacher or someone required by law to take action. Even then it is very much a judgement call and I doubt legal action would be taken. I don't know though. In the case of a professional they have to call 911 and have them committed to a hospital if they truly feel they are an imminent danger to themselves or others. I know this is true in the States but not sure about other places.

I think you have to take it seriously even if someone is just seeking attention. How are we to know. Very tough position to be in and to know what to do.

It has only happened to me once when I was a teenager. My next door neighbor and very good friend told me that she was going to kill herself that night by swallowing a bottle of pills. I had no idea what to do. I didn't want her mad at me for "ratting" on her. I fretted and fretted and ended up not telling anyone. If she had succeeded I don't know how I would have handled it. She told me she took a bottle of aspirin and of course that is not going to do the job. I was very relieved. I was happy that she felt she could confide in me. Breaking that trust may have been worse, I don't know, I was only a teen.

I have told my pdoc that i even had a plan but he did not even consider having me admitted as far as I can tell. I had to really assure him I did not intend on following through. I could have been lying though. I can't believe I told him that much. Thoughts are pretty normal for us. Plans and means to carry it out is something else entirely.

Sounds to me like you did the right thing and good for you. Not easy and took courage.