Please add a reporting option for suicide and self-harm methods

JessJesss · 2024-08-17T17:24:53+00:00

While it’s ok for people to post about feelings relating to suicide or self-harm, posts about actual methods shouldn’t be allowed (as per advice from Samaritans, Mind etc). I have quite often reported posts that mention specific methods of suicide and have had some really disappointing responses from MN before now - eg telling me you can’t edit posts, well fine then take it down and let the poster know they need to repost without that. I wondered if you’d consider a reporting option for this. It would be nice to feel MN takes online safety seriously. NB I really am not criticising or stigmatising people who suffer with these feelings, I have and do myself. But MN does a patchy job of dealing with talk of methods.

SoupDragon · 19/08/2024 09:56

Isn't having a separate tick box going to be triggering for people when they report other things?

MNHQ

KellyMumsnet · 19/08/2024 09:52

Hi @JessJesss. We do have a quite detailed moderation policy on suicide and self harm, which we established with the help of charities such as Mind some time ago.

Any reports like this are prioritised and yes, we would usually delete posts or threads where methods of suicide or detail on self-harm are mentioned. There may be exceptions though, as there always are. We'd really need to see the post in context to be able to give you more information on that, and it's probably best we don't do that here.

If you want to reply to the report you sent in on the post in question we'll happily take another look, or you can hit the report button above this post and chat to us there about it.

We'll have a think about the idea of a specific button for reporting posts such as this. It seems to work pretty well at the moment with posters choosing the 'other' option and then letting us know that they've spotted a poster who may be in need of help or support, or that a post may need to be taken down. But we're always happy to consider new options so we'll have a chat about that.

Original poster

JessJesss · 19/08/2024 08:14

ReadWithScepticism · 19/08/2024 07:46

Re your most recent post, I think MN already have quite detailed and informed protocols about suicide threads and posts. The certainly know enough to 'take this issue seriously'

I’ve had a different experience at times. But thanks for your scathing post.

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ReadWithScepticism · 19/08/2024 07:46

Re your most recent post, I think MN already have quite detailed and informed protocols about suicide threads and posts. The certainly know enough to 'take this issue seriously'

ReadWithScepticism · 19/08/2024 07:44

I can't see any value in a separate reporting option. If I ever need to report something it is in 'other' half the time and I have always had a very appropriate response.
I can't imagine that a separate text box would be less triggering. If it is triggering for you, scroll on by and let someone else report.

Original poster

JessJesss · 19/08/2024 07:42

So I started this thread as a way to reach MN, not realising they don’t look here at weekends. A bunch of people have jumped on me which has been quite stressful, a lot of people just don’t seem to understand the issue. I’m going to hide the thread as a result as I didn’t want a massive debate I just wanted to make a suggestion to MN, who I hope read it.

Generally I’m not convinced MN know clearly enough to take this issue seriously given that I’ve had moderators tell me they can’t do anything about a post that mentions a method before now. I really hope you’ll rethink this.

As said am hiding this now.

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Original poster

JessJesss · 19/08/2024 07:40

mynameiscalypso · 17/08/2024 21:59

I've never found there to be a problem with this - posts seem to get taken down quickly and it's very rare to see anything about a method because MN tend to deal with it so quickly in my experience

I’ve had MN come back and say they cant do anything about a post that mentioned a method.

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Original poster

JessJesss · 19/08/2024 07:40

Hectorscalling · 17/08/2024 20:28

Any company with a decent data warehouse or data engineer could also pull the data out with out a specific button.

Show quote history

Not easily because you’d need to include every type of method that people may talk about.

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Original poster

JessJesss · 19/08/2024 07:39

Hectorscalling · 17/08/2024 20:27

How is it more triggering to read the post, press report, pick ‘other’ then type ‘please can you take a look at the content as mentions self harm?’

instead of read the post, press report, click a button that is labelled ‘self harm/suicide’ (so reading the words again)?

Lots of things can be ‘triggering’ for people. Are MN meant to have an option for all of them?

and really the context of suicide or self harm matters. There should not be a blanket ban on any mention of it.

I wasn’t asking for a blanket ban on any mention of it, this is about details of methods.

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Original poster

JessJesss · 19/08/2024 07:39

YouAndMeAndThem · 17/08/2024 20:23

I have never once seen posts regarding methods of suicide. If you're easily triggered, online forums are probably not safe for you

I have often seen them and reported them. People may not use the word ‘suicide’ but may mention methods - I can’t give an example as the whole point is that you shouldn’t talk about methods.

Your last line is very unreasonable. I’m talking about a type of content that research has shown is unsafe for lots of people.

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mynameiscalypso · 17/08/2024 21:59

I've never found there to be a problem with this - posts seem to get taken down quickly and it's very rare to see anything about a method because MN tend to deal with it so quickly in my experience

AnneLovesGilbert · 17/08/2024 21:45

longdistanceclaraclara · 17/08/2024 20:37

I have never seen a thread talking about methods of suicide. Just hit report.

That’s because people report them and they get taken down quickly.

HamSad · 17/08/2024 20:39

Just report it.

longdistanceclaraclara · 17/08/2024 20:37

I have never seen a thread talking about methods of suicide. Just hit report.

OneReformedCharacter · 17/08/2024 20:36

Presumably different reports could be flagged as more urgent so someone calling another poster a tit for example, waits longer than more urgent topics. If there was a specific button for self harm descriptions then that could be flagged as a high priority and dealt with quicker.

im assuming that’s how it works anyway

Kinneddar · 17/08/2024 20:33

NeverDropYourMooncup · 17/08/2024 19:09

The data gathered from the specific number of posts reported for this specific reason could be useful in identifying if there are particular issues resulting in an increase/decrease, if further resources are needed, directing the help posts more quickly, that kind of thing. Otherwise they disappear under the category of 'Other' and important issues might be missed that MN could help raise awareness of using their media profile, that kind of thing.

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I'm sure MN have the ability to search how many posts reference self harm or suicide if they want to do any data gathering

AnneLovesGilbert · 17/08/2024 20:32

I’ve reported loads of posts like that, clicked other and written suicide in the box of asked HQ to post the usual links. They always respond really fast.

StarryDance · 17/08/2024 20:32

It was MN policy to not allow any methods of suicide to be posted on the boards. Has that changed?

Hectorscalling · 17/08/2024 20:28

NeverDropYourMooncup · 17/08/2024 19:09

The data gathered from the specific number of posts reported for this specific reason could be useful in identifying if there are particular issues resulting in an increase/decrease, if further resources are needed, directing the help posts more quickly, that kind of thing. Otherwise they disappear under the category of 'Other' and important issues might be missed that MN could help raise awareness of using their media profile, that kind of thing.

Show quote history

Any company with a decent data warehouse or data engineer could also pull the data out with out a specific button.

Hectorscalling · 17/08/2024 20:27

How is it more triggering to read the post, press report, pick ‘other’ then type ‘please can you take a look at the content as mentions self harm?’

instead of read the post, press report, click a button that is labelled ‘self harm/suicide’ (so reading the words again)?

Lots of things can be ‘triggering’ for people. Are MN meant to have an option for all of them?

and really the context of suicide or self harm matters. There should not be a blanket ban on any mention of it.

YouAndMeAndThem · 17/08/2024 20:23

I have never once seen posts regarding methods of suicide. If you're easily triggered, online forums are probably not safe for you

Doable · 17/08/2024 20:20

I think it would be possible to word a tick box eg 'contains potentially harmful information/Samaritans guidelines '

I agree with the idea.

Sidebeforeself · 17/08/2024 19:10

I’m sorry I still don’t understand. I get that reading the post would be triggering but I don’t see how reporting it would be.Not being unsympathetic- genuinely don’t understand.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 17/08/2024 19:09

Kinneddar · 17/08/2024 18:45

I dont see what benefit there would be. You put in the 'other' box why you're reporting it. Its the same MNHQ staff who review posts regardless of which box is ticked. I cant see how having a specific option for self harm would make any difference to the moderating decisions

The data gathered from the specific number of posts reported for this specific reason could be useful in identifying if there are particular issues resulting in an increase/decrease, if further resources are needed, directing the help posts more quickly, that kind of thing. Otherwise they disappear under the category of 'Other' and important issues might be missed that MN could help raise awareness of using their media profile, that kind of thing.

Original poster

JessJesss · 17/08/2024 19:08

OneFrenchEgg · 17/08/2024 19:07

It's a good idea because (assuming MN filter) they could respond quickly

This would be a good thing

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