[RunningEagleRuns]

Many people on here are suicidal, including me. We need a area where we can tell how we feel.

[(JD)]

The support chat room provides that hon. There are no sanctioned psychotherapists here to work with suicidal people... that's for you and your therapist to work through (those horrible feelings) or a hotline (lists are provided to help you find someone to talk with) and emergency rooms.

I think also that some members have additional disorders that would cause them to use the 'suicidal ideation' as a tool for attention... and no one is really able to help here with that....

Plus other members, imo, would be triggered by the discussions and still others would be frustrated and overwhelmed by trying to help a suicidal person. The site just isn't set up to help much in that area....

If one is truly suicidal they need to be talking to someone IRL, not posting or chatting on a website imnsho.

But you know you can post in depression forum about your low feelings and receive encouragment.

[FooZe]

Here's how sabby explained it a few years ago:

Originally Posted by sabby

We do have members here that are feeling suicidal at any given time. If they post that they are feeling that way and what emotions they are going through at the time and looking for support, that is one thing. For a member to post that I'm going to do it xxx and this is how I will do it.....that is against our guidelines.

Our guideline states -

A threat would be along the lines of "I'm done, tonight's the night" or "Goodbye cruel world, I won't be back PC".

If you are discussing that you are wondering why you should continue....that leaves the door open for conversation and support. See the difference?

There's some more discussion in that thread -- Rules and Administration > RE: suicidal posts.

When a member is looking for support with suicidal thoughts and feelings, we usually suggest that they post in the Depression forum.

[(JD)]

Originally Posted by FooZe

When a member is looking for support with suicidal thoughts and feelings, we usually suggest that they post in the Depression forum.

Yeah, that's what I said... but I guess since it's in the Community Feedback and Tech support, I'm persona non grata.

Sorry, forgot to check the forum and stay out of moderators only.

[unaluna]

Originally Posted by (JD)

Yeah, that's what I said... but I guess since it's in the Community Feedback and Tech support, I'm persona non grata.

Sorry, forgot to check the forum and stay out of moderators only.

I don't think they meant that. personally I'm glad you said that part about it being potentially triggering. Pc is always a team effort, that's what I tell my T I love about it.

[bebop]

JD I think you said the right thing as well as fooze. it does trigger many members to see someone so suicidal and they feel helpless to help as well.

[googley]

I would like to point out, that contrary to what (JD) said, support chat is not a place to discuss suicidal ideation. It specifically says when you come into chat that you are not supposed to talk about that in chat. It gives the phone number for the suicide prevention hotline when you enter chat. It is very distressing to go into chat and have a person also in chat who is suicidal and feel like you can't leave when you need to because you don't know what the other person is going to do. I have actually started avoiding the support room because of people coming on when they are suicidal. While I want to support people when they need it, that is more than I am willing to deal with. And as such have felt the need to limit my support to everyone to avoid being put in that situation. If someone is actively suicidal they need to look for help IRL.

[DocJohn]

We're actually not a good resource for suicide support or crisis needs. There are whole communities online dedicated to helping people who are suicidal, and we feel they cover the bases pretty well. Because it's such a serious issue, we believe suicide should be taken seriously -- and that people should get local help from their community asap if they have specific suicidal thoughts and intentions.

If you want to talk about non-specific, vague suicidal thoughts, you're welcomed to start a thread in the depression forum.

You should not talk about suicide in the chat rooms, as it is simply too triggering a topic for most people to handle.

Remember, our community is not a crisis hotline, nor a substitute for real-world help with these kinds of concerns.

Thanks,
DocJohn

[shezbut]

Originally Posted by DocJohn

We're actually not a good resource for suicide support or crisis needs. There are whole communities online dedicated to helping people who are suicidal, and we feel they cover the bases pretty well. Because it's such a serious issue, we believe suicide should be taken seriously -- and that people should get local help from their community asap if they have specific suicidal thoughts and intentions.

If you want to talk about non-specific, vague suicidal thoughts, you're welcomed to start a thread in the depression forum.

You should not talk about suicide in the chat rooms, as it is simply too triggering a topic for most people to handle.

Remember, our community is not a crisis hotline, nor a substitute for real-world help with these kinds of concerns.

Thanks,
DocJohn

Does this same rule apply towards those who self-harm? I am unsure where the line is drawn.

I was in support chat the other night, and another member was fighting that impulse. I didn't know quite what to say. I tried recommending everything that I could think of to bring them to a calmer state of mind, but none of my ideas were helpful at all. I felt really bad and distressed! What else could/or should I possibly say or do for them??

[lizardlady]

Shezbut, I don't know what the rules are about discussing SI urges, but to me it would be similar to someone saying they were fighting suicidal feelings or fighting the desire to use drugs/alcohol if they were in recovery. It seems to me it would be a person reaching out for help to NOT do something.

That said, it's ok to not know what to say to someone. And it's definitely ok to take care of yourself by excusing yourself from the conversation.

[(JD)]

Originally Posted by googley

I would like to point out, that contrary to what (JD) said, support chat is no\t a place to discuss suicidal ideation. It specifically says when you come into chat that you are not supposed to talk about that in chat. It gives the phone number for the suicide prevention hotline when you enter chat. It is very distressing to go into chat and have a person also in chat who is suicidal and feel like you can't leave when you need to because you don't know what the other person is going to do. I have actually started avoiding the support room because of people coming on when they are suicidal. While I want to support people when they need it, that is more than I am willing to deal with. And as such have felt the need to limit my support to everyone to avoid being put in that situation. If someone is actively suicidal they need to look for help IRL.

Thank you for clarifying something I didn't say. What I said was that Support chat is a place to talk about your feelings ( not active suicide plans.) If such negative feelings are not allowed to be discussed I would suggest either closing all the chat rooms, or designating a moderator for each one. If the rules changed, then let it be known. But I was always under the impression that chat rooms were for talking so no action was taken...and it's always been that you don't go to chat for support in any illegal intentions. I am sorry for your confusion.

My actual post was:

Originally Posted by (JD)

The support chat room provides that hon. There are no sanctioned psychotherapists here to work with suicidal people... that's for you and your therapist to work through (those horrible feelings) or a hotline (lists are provided to help you find someone to talk with) and emergency rooms.

I think also that some members have additional disorders that would cause them to use the 'suicidal ideation' as a tool for attention... and no one is really able to help here with that....

Plus other members, imo, would be triggered by the discussions and still others would be frustrated and overwhelmed by trying to help a suicidal person. The site just isn't set up to help much in that area....

If one is truly suicidal they need to be talking to someone IRL, not posting or chatting on a website imnsho.

But you know you can post in depression forum about your low feelings and receive encouragment.

[Christina86]

As DocJohn has replied to this thread, I feel it has run its course. I will now be locking this thread.

Sincerely,
Christina
co-administrator

[DocJohn]

Self harm discussion is fine, but a person should check in with the room first before launching into such a topic, giving people who may be triggered to leave. Or create your own room for such discussions.

Chat isn't always about problem solving for other people's concerns. Often it's just sitting there and listening. We're not responsible for stopping others from doing something harmful to themselves... we're just here to try and support their positive choices.

DocJohn