Dangerous tumblr account - advice needed, please

[Standards]

Hello, anybody out there...

I am the much-harried mother of a complex and very difficult teenage boy of 17. For the past two or three years, it has been a rollercoaster of dramas and incidents (and I feel I have aged 400 years).

My question is: how do I keep an eye on his tumblr account without his knowledge? Somebody in this family obviously needs to as he has talked about suicide on it. Would he know by checking 'viewers', for example, who was accessing his blogs? Any ideas, anyone? I have a good view of my wits-end from here but not quite reached it. Yet. Any computer advice would be terrific, thank you.

I must just state that my son is a complete drama queen and has treatened suicide before; self-harmed; needs help, actually, but is as stubborn/arrogant/self-deluding/non-cooperative as you could imagine. But, of course, I love him with every ounce of my being and need to keep an eye on things. (This is a much longer story cut down to a digestible size.)

Thank you.

I'm afraid I can't help but want to wish you well and hope someone is able to help you

You can create an account on tumblr and follow his blog. He will know he has gained a follower but won't know it's you unless you use your name obviously.

Thank you both very much for taking the time and having the care to respond. It is much appreciated. I have found a friend who has a tumblr account and will keep an eye on him for me. (We had police officers arrive our door in the small hours of the night this week, to see if my son was alright, as someone had - very, very kindly - reported that he had posted a goodbye to the world. He was fast asleep in bed...)
Thank you again.

I don't know what type of tracking the owner of a tumblr account has with regards to seeing who accesses their page, but you can use a proxy server (google and loads will come up). This will essentially hide certain information (e.g. IP address, location etc)

You sound like a lovely Mum, nothing constructive to add, hope you get ut sorted and, yes, get yourself a what the feck is Tumblr account so you can keep a discreet eye.

Is he at College, can you access any support services for him so you can get someone elses perspective on things

How kind you all are. Thank you for the advice given, which is super and I'll explore.
Unfortunately, at college, he is on his final warning for non-attendance, not doing the work etc. If he puts a foot wrong, he's out. So he's pretty unpopular there, amongst the staff. He's bright but conducting himself stupidly. I would dearly love to find some counselling for him, but he is so arrogant that he doesn't see what the problem is... Everything is always someone else's fault. It's ghastly. Ten ton trucks couldn't drag him towards anything like counselling or support of that kind. I've tried, believe me.
Wish (oh boy do I wish) I could be more positive about him at the mo. I hope with all my being that this is just a (very long) hideous phase and that the dear little boy I raised, and filled with good things, will emerge, one day. :( But oh, what a bumpy ride. Thank you everyone. You are very much appreciated. xx

Could you start by pointing him in the direction of the GP's by suggesting it might be something physical causing his low mood? And then hope the GP tries to suggest counselling?

^^ that sounds like a cunning plan ^^^