what on earht are you all doing wih tis suiceide stuff

I would also worry about the other posters if there was a bad outcome

[bugger can't do emoticon]

I agree, Slubber, 100%.

Anybody who is suicidal needs to be seen by a professional. end of.

I completely agree with Threadworm (and tiredemma). The thread should be pulled and an e-mail sent with recommendations to call samaritans or CMHT).

I was talking to DH about this at breakfast (poor man another "there was this thread on mn" discussion over the weetabix). He has done some psychiatry (and sees plenty of pts with mental helath problems). There are varying levels of suicide risk, and obviously different strategies to help someone who is considering it.

I'm not sure a stream of mn posts (although they will all be sympathetic and supportive) are the best thing for someone who is suicidal. There needs to be a conversation with one person who is trained in this and who can give the best support, advice and (if appropriate) referral to other hps/agencies.

So far we've been okay, people have posted genuinely concerned reply and the OPs have not taken their suicidal thoughts. The helpful posters feel good because they've helped someone. But what if, god forbid, someone did actually go on to harm themselves? Apart from that poor individual and their family and friends, how would everyone who'd responded to the thread feel? I personally would feel very guilty if I'd tried to talk someone out of suicide and failed. It's a tricky one as I would never want to turn my back on someone in genuine need of help but equally I wouldn't want to find myself in the situation I described.

I also stay clear in general because I feel they may pose a liability issue in the future.

And I think that's why Samaritans are there.

I find them uncomfortable

oh I don't doubt there are some genuinely suicidal people but we should not encourage people to post in that situation by letting the threads run and have hundreds of people investing emotional energy because it DOES then give other people the impression that it is tolerated on here and a way to get attention

I am genuinely sorry for people who have got to that level, whether they are genuinely suicidal or so desperate that they require that level of attention seeking, but I do feel MNHQ needs to put a stop to a thread like that virtually as soon as it has started and point them in the direction of the Samaritans.

I must admit I stay away but I think they generally do pan out okay and lots of people offer helpful advice

No this isn't a chatboard for 'that sort of thing' but IIRC suicide is the leading cause of death among new mothers, so it is not surprising that it appears now and again

It seems that there was one... then a few followed..

I expend too much emotional energy on them and I reveal too much of myself.

For purely selfish reasons I am not going anywhere near them now.

I agree.

Very early on in my lengthy MN career, I remember we all got extremely concerned by someone who sounded very much on the brink, as it were & we all started waving our credit cards & chequebooks around...

Dare I say it

some attention seekers will no doubt copycat

it's no-one's job though on here. Even if someone is trained, it isn't the PURPOSE of this website to be able to deal with that level of mental illness.

Totally agree

makes me really uncomfortable

I think MNHQ must take a stance.

I think they post and then pull the thread.

I agree. The post should be reported to MNHQ who can at least try to use any contact details they have, and the poster should be advised to ring Samaritans. I think the threads risk becoming too painful for those with personal experience of suicide, and there's an element of prurient interest from others.

Im very uncomfortable with them and really dont have a clue what to say ( which is slightly worrying as I am training in Mental Health). I think its best to steer clear and point in direction of help- ie samaritans, CMHT.

Some people may be more qualified /have more experience themselves in this but I would struggle to discuss these issues online with someone.

oh well ILL do it for you

arf

And spending hours spouting rubbish (in my case, certainly) is our job?

I agree threadworm. I stay away from them, worried I'd do more harm then good by posting on them. And they put MNHQ in a very difficult position.

i think we just have ONE person who posts " ring the samaritcans" in a nice way.
a dn then leave it.
really
its not our job.

Oh I see, you mean MNHQ need to call the Samaritans and refer the thread?

The problem is that they have very little information about people, and what they do have could be fake.

but, but, but!

you can't tell someone to b&gger off if they've got certain problems! And anyway, where do you draw the line between what's suicidal & what isn't?