Friend has posted this on FB

[Conkersareback]

Am I missing a double meaning with this? Or should I be concerned that my friend is feeling low and I should reach out to her? It's an
unusual type of thing for her to do if she is publicly saying how she feels.

You’ve obviously never been mentally ill then, just. ‘Book a therapist’ indeed 🙄

You are definitely doing the right thing calling her OP.
Sometimes people who are labelled "attention seeking" need attention.

They have obviously never been on an NHS waiting list for therapy. Just book a therapist ... to speak to in March 2024.🤔

There are some unbelievably harsh messages on here. We've had to cope with suicide in the family and can only dream that the person would have let up a flare like that asking for help before they took their own lives. If it's out of character I'd be on the phone right now checking on my friend.

As for the person who said that you shouldn't load onto friends but just see a therapist, I'm not sure whether to just feel a bit sorry for them that they don't have kind, caring friends that they can turn to when things get tough. Thats what we're here for.

Hope your friend's ok OP.

Urgh. It’s shit like this which is why mental health is rife.

Sometimes people don’t know how to reach out, to say the words. They see something, a post, a quote, that resonates. They can’t form their own words so they post it. Mental health is talked about on social media, through all sorts of different forms and I’m glad of it.

Attention seeking IS a form of mental health issue. Someone is crying out to be taken notice of for whatever reason.

This sort of thinking is outdated and nasty.

Ok I've called her, she didn't answer but she messaged me, I'm ok. I'm with "Jane (made up name but mutual friend"

I have a promise that she's going to call me this weekend.

I'm happy with that, she is obviously upset about something, but I don't need to overwhelm her by her having to explain anything at the moment.

I will keep her close, but I won't insist she has to do anything she doesn't want to.

I've said I'm there to sit with her and listen, I'm there for her to rant at, I'm there to drink coffee and talk about rubbish, I'm there to sit in silence and hold her hand.

She was reaching out and I'm so glad she did.

People please don't assume that someone posturing like that is attention seeking in a bad way, it's a small cry for help.

To those that have lost friends, I'm sorry.

@MayThe4th Except if you read the OP's replies, you would see that her friend never does this so-called 'attention-seeking' or 'spam' thing, which is why it is so out of character. Read the OP's posts before replying with nonsense.

your friend - history of being rather dramatic and a drama llama?or out of character

This thread is really unpleasant. It really does show why mental health is a problem in this country when so many people are quick to point fingers and shout ‘ATTENTION SEEKING!!!’. I bet all those saying that would be the first to cry witchcraft some years back as well.

well done OP, it’s good to know that you’re friend has friends like you and “Jane”. I hope she feels better.

Ah out of character

then yes I would contact.

and I sure as hell wouldn’t post it on mumsnet

Thank you for caring for your friend.

And from what you say, she is obviously upset and so clearly wasn't 'spamming' or 'attention-seeking'.

Have I missed something

does not being “active” on FB mean you are not… up and about?

Well done OP, you sound like a great friend x

You did the right thing @Conkersareback. I understand that posting on social media can come across as attention seeking but it can also illustrate how desperate someone is. Just checking in only takes a few seconds or minutes. Would prefer to have wasted that time than dismissed someone who is genuinely struggling.

OP you are a good friend. I cant believe some of the vile posts on here, probably from the same posters who paste "Be Kind" all over their social media 🙄
"Attention seeking" is such an unpleasant phrase, sometimes people can be at their lowest ebb and have no idea how to reach out, many people feeling that way will feel too worthless to reach out to close friends to say they are struggling. I'm happy that she has a friend like you op and not some of the people on here being so unpleasant.

You’re a good friend OP.

I am so thankful for the wonderful friends I have that have helped me through so much in my life, and have reciprocated when they needed me.

As for the ignorant, thoughtless god awful posts on this thread, you need to have a good hard look at yourselves.

*singlemomof3 · Today 07:09
No

It's attention seeking at best

It's the ones that don't post that have the genuine mental health issues

complete uniformed twaddle!
I have worked with so many kids that have told us straight how much they are struggling and posted stuff like this. Over the last four years two girls that I worked with have hung themselves, countless more have seriously self harmed.

Even if something is attention seeking, they are seeking attention for a reason.

It's right in the OP that it's an unusual thing for the friend to do.

When working with teenagers who are struggling with mental health we are taught to consider it connection seeking rather than attention seeking. Human beings need support and social contact and with increasingly isolated lives then reaching out behind a screen is becoming normal.
Im glad your friend has support.
I have lost someone to suicide and if them posting something on Facebook had prompted us to their distress then I would have sat with them all night long. Sadly they gave no indication they were struggling. Some people do, some don’t.

@WeAreGerbil exactly this

God OP, I feel like posting that sometimes often Your friend is venting and/or feeling worthless. I don't post such things because it has been instilled in me that it equates to a self-pity party/God forbid we have feelings...I vent on here instead as it is anonymous!
She may be hoping her family members see it but even if not and they are blocked or whatever, it will not do any harm for you to reach out. Same as people on here accused of trolling or attention-seeking - I'd much rather give them that attention, if they need it, than ignore and scroll on. If that makes me gullible or an enabler, so be it.
Always better to be kind than to be right.

Ah, just seen your update. Good on ya

Please call…I have ptsd and sometimes people saying things critical to me ( even someone being rude- especially men) sends me into spirals like this. Last time I self harmed and was making plans to end my life to get away form being constantly criticised. This text is exactly how I feel when triggered
talk to her.
ask if she has feelings like this before, how often etc
If it’s not a one off - ask her gently if she has spoken to her GP ? If not do try to suggest it ..but she has to get to that point herself
let her talk- ask open questions , don’t judge, don’t panic …just try to encourage medical help for her if it’s recurring
reinforce the things you like about her, her strengths, what she means to you to try to counter some of these negative “I’m all bad” thoughts . Don’t counter exactly what she’s said , she won’t believe that probably..but tell her why she is important to you and to any other people you know.

It's the sort of attention seeking nonsense I would roll my eyes up then mute the person.

But if it's out of character then give her a ring.