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?

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,

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.

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.

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.)

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.

Well yes that makes sense.

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.

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.

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.

Maybe I got them taught a lesson if they were faking it.

That is true, but it sounds risky if they backfire on you.

That is true, but it sounds risky if they backfire on you.

How so? How could it backfire?

How so? How could it backfire?

Well, I was thinking that if law enforcement is involved they could get into trouble for faking it, or get in trouble with their parents at the very least. Getting into trouble doesn't make people very happy. People learn from their mistakes, and sometimes their mistakes can be their downfall when others are involved, such as wanting revenge, showing anger towards you, or doing something stupid.

Well, I was thinking that if law enforcement is involved they could get into trouble for faking it, or get in trouble with their parents at the very least. Getting into trouble doesn't make people very happy. People learn from their mistakes, and sometimes their mistakes can be their downfall when others are involved, such as wanting revenge, showing anger towards you, or doing something stupid.

If they're faking it, they deserve to get in trouble.

 

There are a lot of people out there that need help, that really need help.

 

Someone faking suicidal tendencies, IMO, is like someone pranking an emergency hotline (like 911 here in the States).

If they're faking it, they deserve to get in trouble.

 

There are a lot of people out there that need help, that really need help.

 

Someone faking suicidal tendencies, IMO, is like someone pranking an emergency hotline (like 911 here in the States).

I completely agree with you. I'm just saying sometimes when you get others into trouble they get you involved as the one who told on them.

I completely agree with you. I'm just saying sometimes when you get others into trouble they get you involved as the one who told on them.

Ah, I see. I'd just share the information and say I was reporting suspicious activity. I don't really think they can do much to the reporting party unless the report was falsified.

I think they are trying to seek attention. But before taking any action, I would reach out through a private message.

This has never happened to me, but I would immediately delete it because there can be pressure from both sides (do it/don't do it, with the former being on toxic forums, which I plan to have at least 2), message them that their account has been locked for 72 hours (and lock it from posting), as well as sending them a list of emergency hotlines and suicide hotlines for each country. Deleting also shows that the forum is not your personal therapist.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_emergency_telephone_numbers

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_suicide_crisis_lines

 

Going any further, such as giving medical advice (whether with good intention), even though it's a "you'll be okay", opens you up to some legalities as you establish a duty of care, whether you realize that or not. If they follow through with it, you could be the one to blame as you're not licensed nor trained on how to handle the situation, as families often go through stages of grief and one of those is anger which could come in the form of a lawsuit.

 

I know that I'll have to deal with this on IIJM (Is It Just Me?), a mental health forum, at one time or another. And, there's no way I am going to put my company at risk by giving any advice. It'll also have a notice of the hotlines listed. The rules there will be slightly different as posts about talking about SI/self-harm will not be tolerated, etc.