[JustBen]

There's been an increase in suicidal posts and messages in chat recently, so I thought I'd post a small reminder about the guidelines. PsychCentral is first and foremost a self-help community and not set up to handle suicidal thoughts and ideation. Messages like this --either in the forums or in chat--can cause a lot of distress and feelings of hopelessness for other members. If you're feeling suicidal, please get help from a trained professional immediately. (You can find resources here: http://psychcentral.com/helpme.htm.) For the sake of the community the admin/mod team is going to be enforcing this policy, so please respect the guidelines. Thanks.

[kimmydawn]

Thanks for posting a reminder about this difficult subject, Ben.

KD

[hereiam]

Here, here.

[SweetSunshine]

I'm so sorry I messed up last night. I just panicked.Wont call upon anyone for help again like that. No use in stressing out anyone else. Just please accept my apology.

Beth

((((((((((Beth))))))))))))

[kimmydawn]

((((((((Beth)))))))))

Please check your PM's. There's not one thing that you have to apologize for...one thing, ok?

Also, this is a reminder post.

Love,

KD

[wi_fighter]

I wanted to bring this back to the top.

I can't say that suicidal posts make me feel helpless, but I do find them for the most part annoying. If you are really feeling suicidal and are serious, CALL A CRISIS HOTLINE.

When someone comes on and posts about how life isn't worth living, and has people spend hours trying to "talk" them out of it, and then comes back a few days later and does the same thing, one thing comes into my head - they're crying wolf and just want attention.

This is a self-help support forum. We, as members, are ill equipped at best to avert a crisis that may or may not exist. If you're chronically suicidally inclined, get real help.

Maybe there are a few members here who don't mind coping with the suicidal posters, but it's in the guidelines that such posts aren't allowed. It seems that the lines had gotten blurrier and blurrier regarding what is just a smidgen under crossing the line. I'm really hoping that this is going to be a site wide smackdown (for lack of a better word) on suicidal posts.

Stepping off my soapbox now.

[January]

Bump

[Evangelista]

I know I am very very very new, and you have a very definite ownership of your stand, but not a very compasionate supportive empathic statement to post nonetheless.sorry..just had to say..yuckie way to get a point across

[lenjan]

I have to say, I am 100% behind wi-fighter's post. After you've been here awhile, you'll understand better what she's talking about. I don't see her as being uncompassionate, but rather as frustrated and tired of some of the crap that goes on here that isn't supposed to be allowed to go on. Like I said, I'm right behind her.

Candy

[Greenleaves]

I'm one of those people who posts suicidal posts often (not here, but at another forum). When I post them, I'm genuinely in distress, but looking back I think I was safe (mostly because I live at home with my parents).

I posted those things often, every few weeks or so and people got really frustrated with me at times. Seeing people get frustrated and angry only made me feel worse. Having people accuse me of being manipulative and crying wolf put me in more distress.

All that would have been avoided if only I weren't allowed to post suicidal things in the first place.

I think for me at least, a no suicidal posts rule is a good thing to have. It forces me to express my distress in other ways. It forces me out of the habit of resorting to suicidal thoughts for all my upsets.

[Evangelista]

I wil say one or two more foot in mouth type statements, then I too will get off my soap box, especially since I am just a survivor & mental health consumer, like most that visit here. I have witnessed one tragic suicide and prevented two, so I know where the frustration lies, and the helplessness, I understand the enforcing of the Suicidal post issues, 100 percent about that too, but to state it in the manner given was not the most politically correct way to come across..yay yay..who am I..but I had to say it, the tone just came across so wrong at least to my overly sensitive psyche..again sorry, not meant to be offensive..just learning to say my peice and move on..

[LMo]

Greenleaves, this was really, really good input. Thank you for speaking out about this.

[Greenleaves]

Thanks LMo!

[wi_fighter]

Greenleaves, I second LMo's comment.

[kimmydawn]

I have to say that you just spoke volumes, GL.

I thank you for sharing. Even when the struggle is such a hard one at times, you came out to share your experience with a tough issue and a horrible feeling and added a matter of fact statement to help others.

How absolutely cool is that?

kd

[SleepsWithButterFlies]

I am 100% behind the no suicide posting rules...but I do agree with you on a few issues and think you show great compassion Evangelista

[January]

Green, I am so proud of you!!!!! What a wonderful post!

Hugs,

Jan

excellent post, greenleaves. bravo!!!!

[Greenleaves]

Wow, thanks guys!

I had no idea my post would create such a reaction!

[hereiam]

I think the no suicidal posts policy is good because it really does put others (including myself) in distress when we see posters we've befriended, and even ones we haven't, posting (if not directly) about ending their lives or how they would be better off dead. Or about how they should just swallow a bunch of pills, etc etc. I understand some people are just venting, which is okay, but when you pointedly make a post looking like you're leaning in the direction of suicide it's hard for others to deal with. Especially when they are going through their own things.

[Evangelista]

Thank you Sleepswithbutterflys. It is very important to have this rule in place because it is unfair to all involved, and dangerous, but that was not what I was addressing, but I think you got that part of my sharing, and Greensleeves thank you.

[bebop]

I came in at the end of that situation the other night in chat. people were so upset and that is not fair to them. I have been in chat areas where that was acceptable and I have to say it was exhausting for the ones trying to talk someone out of it. I support the rule 100%. We are not trained to deal with that kind of behavior even though most of us have had those thoughts ourselves.

GL I applaud you! That took alot of courage on your part to speak that here.

[(JD)]

It's a good policy. Even for those who are trained to handle those situations, it's draining emotionally. I do support the allowance of sharing how poorly one feels, under the shadow of chronic depression, though. Perhaps it's another line that some members, especially new members, will learn?

GL, yes, good post. However, long time members here remember your struggle with those horrible feelings, and I question if you had NOT had that other site to post your feelings in this matter, if you would have been able to realize what the depression was putting you through? I felt your frustration at not being allowed to share here at PC, also... I deal with the same chronicity of no hope. Not having anywhere to "put the feelings out there" doesn't seem to affect whether or not the feelings remain, for me.

[Monty_girl]

I think this is a topic of a large can of worms. Think ppl need to remember that they are responsible for their own feelings and not the feelings of others. We can not save or support everyone. There are MANY MANY topics I see posted on here that do being up suicidal feelings for me. Not just post about suicide. But I know in the end I'm responsible for my own well being. When I see post that being up these feelings I just back away and read no longer. A policy is a policy. Yeah what ever it is. When I become suicidal I seem to find that I completely turn away from PC because I feel like I'm being punished for feeling the way I do. And I know that ppl will say that I'm not being punished. But it sometimes feels that way. But sometimes when you can't express how you really feel and are in need of support getting through these feelings it's hard. And the last person I want to talk to is someone on a telephone I don't know. I would much rather get support from ppl I know that care about me. Not some college student working a hotline who doesn't know me or anything about DID. I'm not meaning to start anything. Just think that ppl need to realize that sometimes there are ppl here who are in a great deal of pain and are forced to say nothing about the pain they are in. I just believe ppl need to be responsible for their own well being. NO PLACE is ever safe, no matter if it's a suicidal post/chat, or talk of SI. Know your triggers and stay away from them.

James