Urgently need to contact a moderator

[Palace13]

I have serious concerns for another member's safety.
Need to speak privately to someone about this.
I believe the person requires an urgent police welfare check.

[donaldducksgranonceremoved]

f someone posts on here that they are considering harm to themselves or others then yes it should be reported to the authorities. It may be the only way to stop something tragic. Drs and counsellors can break confidence for similar reasons - I have people call me at work asking for help in confidence and yes I would call the police/social services if I was worried as I put safety above the embarrassment of a visit from the police that turns out to be a false alarm.

Doctors and counsellors know the person actually exists and is who they say they are - there's a face to face relationship and they don't simply do it without informing suicidal person that they need to and why. It's transparent not a sneaky call which is a betrayal.

Even over the phone - the voice exists and usually you would inform someone that you needed to do X because of X

On the Internet in forums such as MN there is no privacy - hundreds if not thousands of people are an audience to somebody's distress or desire for someone to notice them... some of that audience can be triggered or feel overly responsible towards the poster so then it's not simply 1 vulnerable person at risk but multiple... and well meaning kind helpful people, well think of it this way - would the actual professional who needs to GET involved stand much of a chance doing their job if you all stood in the Dr/Counsellors office talking over them??? You are a distraction!

You aren't a friend IRL who will be there or visiting in hospital if they end up going, and you aren't qualified to help (even if you say you are - in no place does your lisence say "and by posting on MN"

As it is often people cut contact with people who helped in traumatic times later down the line as it's triggering- you aren't building a lovely supportive friendship by chatting with a suicidal stranger online

[EntirelyAnonymised]

There have been another two or three similarly themed new threads since Samm’s.

I do think Josie makes an interesting point and it’s an angle I hadn’t necessarily considered. If MN are now intervening on these sorts of threads, (though it is unclear on what the criteria is for intervention and how MNHQ determine a genuine poster from a full on troll or a drama llama) will it draw vulnerable people here with the expectation that they will be ‘rescued’ by the MN SWAT team?

It’s problematic on every level.

[NoCauseRebel]

So, suicidal posters aside, the T&C’s state that where there are safeguarding concerns hq can make a report. So where does that end?

Currently there is at least one thread where an OP is being accused of neglect. It’s not black and white but she is getting an absolute flaming on that thread. Perhaps some might suggest that mn intervene and report her to social services? What about posters looking for support to leave abusive relationships? Should HQ have referred those to the police?

By making this stance the message is very clear. Speaking out when you need support is not acceptable because those you are asking for support will sneakily go behind your back and report you to the authorities. In an age where we encourage people to ask for help when they need it and to feel they are able to talk about their feelings this is not something which is going to encourage that view. If anything the message is very clear. People need to close off again. Never speak about that which troubles you because you never know who is listening and who might report you and to who.

It’s incredibly disempowering.

[NoCauseRebel]

Oh and according to a poster on another thread the Samaritans are no longer bound by confidentiality any more and are legally bound to report to the authorities so there goes another source of support for those who feel they need it....

[Smotheroffive]

The Samaritans do not hold any information on their callers, unlike MN.

So whatever you say to a Samaritan even if you go ahead and kill yourself whilst on the phone to them theres nothing they can do, and I feel for any that have been through that,but they are trained for all kind of situations, whereas posters are not, and are a population sometimes put at emotional and psychological risk from other posters on a forum.

I'm not sure about the blurred lines on this one though,although Michael commented on the continued monitoring of the thread, which when OP ignored all words other than to encourage off-board posting, it was a bit obvious the intent wasn't to focus on the support beng offered

[donaldducksgranonceremoved]

I honestly don't know - I didn't actually see the thread before it was deleted but mentally unwell people often behave in ways that don't make sense necessarily if you're of sound mind

Regardless of the posters actions or perceived intent I think the policy of deleting swiftly and redirecting people to seek support on channels who are trained - such as the Samaritans is the best course of action

MN is not equipped to handle such things and should not imply that they are themselves a place that can