I don't see how anyone could not call 911 - every time. I can live with looking like a fool.
I can, especially when you have called 911 and the responding police officer tells you that your husband just wants to be alone in that motel room and if you don't leave him alone you'll be arrested. Then your husband goes on to finish the deed (note the word "finish" as he had already started BEFORE the police came).
Yes, an extreme case but with all the privacy laws out there when you are dealing with another adult it can be very difficult. Not all suicidal people are acting like lunatics. As a matter of fact during that experience my husband was as calm as could be and I was closer to being the lunatic. Again, take what I say with a grain of salt as when it comes to suicide I am very jaded.