Stephen Whittle (Press for Change) irresponsible use of 'likely' suicides follows Helen Belcher's (Trans Media Watch)

Given the Samaritans guidelines and the risk of social contagion, I’m genuinely baffled how anyone can possibly defend Whittle’s statement, which, whether deliberately or not, reads like an incitement to suicide.

Whittle thinks the “flurry” of suicides will be brought on by a delay in reform.

And yet, apparently, the proposed reforms are 'just a minor bit of admin', that won't make any difference to anyone. Women are apparently getting worried about something so trivial that will have very little effect on women's lives or transgender people's lives.

Why would anyone kill themselves over something so trivial?

The more I think about this the more angry I get.

When they were voting for gay marriage, was the rhetoric from gay rights campaigners 'if you vote against this then we will kill ourselves'? And that was for something that did actually mean the difference between equality and inequality.

How can this be allowed to happen? These people are backing themselves into such a corner that the only way forward for them is if there is indeed a 'flurry of suicides'. So they are in a position where they need people to be killing themselves on a large scale in order to prove their own political point.

Plus the whole thing adds to the narrative that being suicidal is part and parcel of being trans. That is so dangerous, especially if we are talking about young people. They will read everything that is being written and honestly think 'well if I want people to take me seriously as trans then I am going to have to at least attempt suicide'.

And all so that women's rights can be eroded.

Am I nuts here? Am I reading this whole suicide thing wrong? Please someone tell me I am because I just can't even.

Statistically, suicide rates are higher in the trans population, it's been widely written about

This is exactly the problem - so many poor uninformed people believing what they read and not doing any grown up fact checking.

I can see that Samaritans are in a bind with this, because if they condemn all the casual suicide threats they will be flamed by the trans lobby, which will put fear into already confused young people and make them even more isolated.

But they nevertheless need to put their big girl pants on and issue a sensitive statement about it. They could also say that if people are being distressed by all the talk of suicide they can contact them. Threatening a bloody flurry (ffs) of suicides is horrendously upsetting for so many people.

Whittle thinks the “flurry” of suicides will be brought on by a delay in reform.

Catbox, do you reckon that means any kind of delay? Like if the analysis team all came down with the flu and this delayed the reform?

Or do you think it’s just a delay caused by properly consulting with women that’s going to make people kill themselves?

Given the current universality of this tactic among prominent TRAs I think we can conclude the following.
1. This is a coordinated effort. They are in touch with each other, they discuss strategy.
2. This is the strategy they have currently chosen in the hopes of forcing self-ID through.
3. The older people deploying this strategy do not care if it results in harm to the young people over whom they have an influence.

And THAT really is chilling. They show the kid on Butterfly slitting his wrists. Then they follow it up with multiple tweets & the Guardian article.

In a statement released to the Sunday Times, Tavistock GIDS had this to say about the portrayal of suicidality in Butterfly:

“Suicidality in young people attending the Gids is similar to that of young people referred to child and adolescent mental health services.

“It is not helpful to suggest that suicidality is an inevitable part of this condition . . . It would be very unusual for younger children referred to the service to make suicidal attempts. More positive narratives. . . are important.”

If fact I believe autistic people are a far higher risk.

They are. And yet we still wait years for a diagnosis in order to get support. A lengthy, intrusive and difficult diagnostic process.

The TRAs need transgender people to commit suicide now. And for it to be very public. They need it. It's the only place they can go now.

It’s going to be awful. Some poor vulnerable soul is going to read what Whittle has written in the Guardian and do it. It makes me feel sick.

Statistically, suicide rates are higher in the trans population, it's been widely written about

Well people can write whatever they want apparently, the actual statistics DO NOT SUPPORT THAT. Particularly for trans teen suicides.

such a flippant comment - a flurry of suicides

Well instead of automatically jumping to his defence, perhaps you ought to read about the guidelines that he is violating, before justifying him.

Statistically suicides are not higher in the trans population. They are high in marginalised populations. LGBT, disabled, autistic. If fact I believe autistic people are a far higher risk.

On a slight tangent, I am pleased to see our local MP, Maria Caulfield, taking this up. She was firmly in the TRA camp when I first wrote to her last year, so well done to all of us who have helped to campaign to open her eyes.

I can't speak for him. Statistically, suicide rates are higher in the trans population, it's been widely written about. Is you beef really with the Guardian? Rather than Whittle? I have not read the Samaritan guidelines so I can't speak on those either. But it does seem, from comments about 'narc rampages' and inferring Whittle has secretly done things (despite being already well known for his PFC and his academic work), that there's some sort of campaign here against him.

Whittle talks about themself in the third person on here, and then says ta da, it's me really!

That’s why happened in the Girl Guiding thread, wasn’t it. Didn’t Whittle suggest something to do with condoms on girl guide camp?

I've emailed Samaritans about this, it's truly appalling

Because everyone does know it. Everyone is documenting it. And everyone is telling the Samaritans.

If Whittle continues to do it, I will hold on him personally culpable.

Catbox

But what does Whittle think about everyone knowing they are riding a horse and cart over suicide guidelines?

The TRAs need transgender people to commit suicide now. And for it to be very public. They need it. It's the only place they can go now.

Fucking grim.

This suicide threat thing is getting out of hand now.

The wheels are well and truly coming off.

Haha I'm not but I do take it as a compliment :D

So Catbox. Is Whittle not aware that saying certain people will kill themselves if you don't do what they want, is a direct violation of samaritan guidelines with regard to suicide ideation?

Timelady - inciting mumsnet to spread poison about Whittle is unlawful. You might want to have that post removed. Lest it cause you more trouble than anyone you're keen to cause trouble for.

You might want to stop with your fucking threats. You don’t scare us Whittle

Whittle talks about themself in the third person on here, and then says ta da, it's me really!

Yes.