Thank you! I see this a lot online. I understand that if someone is feeling suicidal a forum is insufficient, but it just seems cold to have a support forum for people to talk about what's troubling them and then rebuff them by telling them to go talk to someone else.

I haven't been able to get any understanding online myself and have given up trying, but I do try to let people at least know that they're heard. Knowing that someone is taking what you're feeling seriously can make a difference, as can stories about experiences, overcoming struggles, and finding small ways to cope and maintain health. There's no magic fix to be applied that will simply shut people up.

What we're dealing with here isn't problems, it's people.