To worry that someone I don't know may have just posted a suicide message on social media? (Obviously sensitive)

[OverTheHammer]

A musician I follow has just posted a worrying message on social media. He's not massively famous but has a cult following. I won't post too many details for obvious reasons but this person is a known manic depressive with history of suicidal tendencies. Over the past few weeks his posts have become darker and more depressing - at the weekend something happened which he was arrested for and just now he's posted a message on social media which could be interpreted as a goodbye message.

I have met him a few times and spoken to him online a number of times but I dont personally know him. Aside from being a fellow human being who wouldn't want to see someone kill them selves, I'm also a medical professional who knows the signs and is hard wired to act on them - but what can you do when you don't personally know them??!

DH just laughed it off and said it's attention seeking. AIBU to be really worried about this guy as well as feeling powerless to help him?

If you are really worried could you call the police to check on them

You could reach out to him in the form of a PM?

Failing that could you call the police and state you think he intends to harm himself? They might state that they won't be doing anything but then they may well do something

All you can do is message him and see if he wants to chat.

If he will talk to you and you're still concerned then offer advice ie talk to samaritans, take himself to A&E etc.

I've sent him a message but no reply. Reading tweets from other people too who know him personally asking him to answer his phone etc.

Any reply?

I've called the police in similar circumstances. I recommend that you do the same.

Gosh, I had something similar. I just posted on their wall that perhaps a friend or family member could pop round and visit them. Then I stepped away and defriended them because I was powerless to help them really. I considered the police but actually someone responded and said they were going round so I left it. They were thankfully OK and whilst I understand mental health issues I think if he's got a lot of followers he won't mind losing one follower. Sometimes you have to step away and leave them in the hands of their friends and family.

Call the police local to musician.

A not very well known musician posted something similar on twitter and his blog last year, I called 101 and explained vaguely where he lived and his name. They found him in time.

I think there's an option to report to Facebook with an option of 'credible threat of harm' or something along those lines. IIRC it triggers something to Facebook and it gets reported to the police. I think that's right anyway.

Failing that, I'd report it to the local police.

Call the police, better to give him the attention than to ignore it and it goes too far.

The police will check facebook and do a welfare check if they agree with you.

Many police have a mh nurse in the call room who they can ask to take a look at his sm and escalate if necessary.

Just tried it - if you hit the top right arrow on the post, click on 'report' then select 'I don't think this should be on Facebook' and then 'It's threatening, violent or suicidal'.

Still no reply but by the looks of twitter his friends and family are on it and doing the appropriate things. It wasn't on Facebook, it was on instagram. Therefore I don't know where in the country he currently is so wouldn't know where to report it to. People who know him personally are still trying to reach him but getting nowhere. If this does turn out to be attention seeking ill unfollow him. Can't be sat worrying like this when I don't even know the guy. It's not the first time he's posted something worrying but this one seemed a lot more genuine and following last nights incident I can't help but feel this is the real deal.