General Suicide and Self-Harm Threats (1 Viewer)

[Shawn Gossman]

I've seen this a few times.

Members of a forum who are depressed or undergoing some form of mental health crisis. They threaten to kill or harm themselves. Many will do this in the open forum.

Some may be faking it for attention, but there is always a chance they are not.

How do you, as a forum owner, handle this sort of incident?

Is it a ban-and-go issue, or are you trying to contact someone who can do something about it?

 

[Cedric]

I agree, usually it’s a scream for attention. The people who actually want to commit suicide don’t talk about it. You’ll never see it coming. I had a nephew who committed suicide, such a shame. He was younger than me.

And we know someone that also committed suicide 2 weeks ago. So that just confirms it. Those who talk about it, won’t do it.

I’d just delete the threads/posts to be honest. Unless I know it’s actually serious. In that case, I’d get help,

 

[Arantor]

I’d reach out to them privately, but also delete the post. It’s clear they need some kind of help and reaching out can be that lifeline, but it does come with “I am not your therapist” boundary attached.

 

[CTS]

There's a reason why the likes of Google ban the word on YouTube. Its because someone who is in a prone position could be negatively impressed by just the conversation.

I feel each situation has its own merits, and has to be addressed by the staff individually.

 

[Arantor]

There's a reason why the likes of Google ban the word on YouTube

Yes, but it’s not why you think it is. Think more along the lines that advertisers don’t want their products advertised near such things because the notion of suicide might be then connected to their product and no one wants that. (This broadly holds true for all the words YouTube demonetises you for.)

 

[Shawn Gossman]

Think more along the lines that advertisers don’t want their products advertised near such things because the notion of suicide might be then connected to their product and no one wants that. (This broadly holds true for all the words YouTube demonetises you for.)

^This is exactly it.

YouTube and Google aren't doing it for some kind of mental health awareness thing - they're doing it for the money.

 

[CTS]

Well yes that makes sense.

 

[Cory]

I had suicidal ideation quite often when I was a teenager and into my younger twenties. I once told my best online friend that I was planning to kill myself on what was probably MSN at the time when she was offline, and the next thing I know the police were at my doorstep to talk me out of it.

It's very tough to deal with situations like this because you never know the intent of someone behind a screen. I would possibly delete the topic/post they made about it and PM them various resources for suicide prevention.

 

[Ravenfreak]

I would reach out to the member who posted it and talk to them. I would also delete their topic, because it would cause others to reach out to them, of course to try and help but it can get overwhelming I'm sure. I would refer them to the suicide hotline in their country, and help them find resources that can help. I'm not a professional, so there's not too much I can do.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

I once told my best online friend that I was planning to kill myself on what was probably MSN at the time when she was offline, and the next thing I know the police were at my doorstep to talk me out of it.

If I could share user information with their local law enforcement as a way to respond to suicide threats, that's what I would do. Maybe I saved their life? Maybe I got them taught a lesson if they were faking it.