The fantasy of being rescued from suicide is expressed as a suicidal attempt so arranged that it invites the intervention of a particular rescuer to prevent its successful execution. A wish to be saved is an element in every attempted suicide. The rescuer is chosen from among those who have the capacity to empathize with the suicidal person at a particular time. In 'borderline' and psychotic individuals the choice may be symbolic and vaguely expressed.

The prototype for the relationship the suicidal person seeks with the rescuer probably is that early one between child and parent when they shared a common ego and responded directly to the unconscious of each other. The rescuer must have a surplus of free libidinal energy with which to love the suicidal person and initiate the rescue, and he must have sufficient ego strength to deal with the sum of the suicidal person's and his own destructive impulses. Often a potential rescuer recognizes the appeal to him but disregards it because of his own hostility or lack of ego strength and libidinal resources.