We don't allow threads like this

[JaneJeffer]

Since when did this rule happen?

That won't have helped her, that will have hurt her.

@WellHolyGodMiley

There are times to muse on whether people troll about suicide and this isn't one of them.

So unqualified mumsnet posters are in a better position to help than trained professionals and highly trained volunteers?

Yes. Remember they are concerned for the MH of all posters and not just the OP. If a thread escalates into something it could be very harmful for anyone involved.

The whole point is that she was struggling to access professional help.

The only PP posts I saw were ones suggesting she contact her GP or try the samaritans again.

It shouldn't be too much to ask to tailor a message to someone in distress.

This has been the case for a long time now, after MNHQ took advice from a range of mental health organisations about responsible polices around the issue of suicide.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't, it would appear for MNHQ.

I thought the reply was quite compassionate
I think the complete opposite.

So a person can't write a thread saying they aren't coping and feel worthless? Are all threads that may imply this to be blocked?

So a person can't write a thread saying they aren't coping and feel worthless? Are all threads that may imply this to be blocked?

No, it’s not that. It’s the imminent suicide or a clear plan that’s the problem.

It’s the imminent suicide or a clear plan that’s the problem

You obviously didn't read the thread or read her posts properly. She didn't say either those things

What imminent plan did she have? Not wanting to go on? That isn't a plan. Poor woman, i hope she finds real support somewhere.

I already said I didn’t read all the thread, but between the title and some of the things she was saying it was pretty clear what the situation was. I expect the moderator read it the same way I did.

Anyway, I don’t think rehashing the thread is the right thing. This should be deleted as a taat if so.

We're not rehashing it. We're worried about her being upset.

Your right PurpleDaisies, better we all pretend it didn't happen to maintain status quo. Nothing to see hear folks, move right along. Oh, and don't come here for support, thats what the Samaritans are for.

'Here'

This was me a few years ago. I was feeling suicidal but had no clear plan. I also had no support. I was trying to protect my family. The Samaritans were worse than useless. I just wanted someone to talk me down. Mumsnet deleted my thread even though I was getting lots of support. I spiralled down as I had no-one to talk to and felt alone and unsupported. Mumsnet rejecting me just compounded the issues. This poor women. I never saw the thread and I hope she is ok.

That’s not what I’m saying at all. I think it’s fine to ask why the guidelines are what they are. I really don’t think it’s helpful to that particular poster to start arguing about exactly what they did or didn’t say.

Posters who are actively suicidal and have a plan shouldn’t come here for support-MN isn’t qualified to provide it and they should be signposted to better places.

Just when I thought human beings couldn’t stoop any lower this person was screaming out for help and their post deleted so we even know if this person is ok xx mortified

Clairethewitch70, I'm sorry you were not supported when you needed it.

@clairethewitch70

I am so sorry that happened to you. I had really bad PND and it's really common to feel you have thoughts like people would be better off without you because you feel like you're not good enough. It's not being suicidal. It's a common problem with PND.

I believe that poster is safe. See MH topic.

Yes, thank God she was ok. But she clearly hadn't received any kindness or support from @MNHQ.

I hope questions are going to be asked about this today.

Hello everyone - thanks for all your thoughts.
As a few posters have mentioned, we’ll always remove threads where a poster has expressed an intent to or discussed methods to end their life. This guidance is in line with the recommendations from several mental health orgs we consulted in drafting our policy.

Having said all that - we’ve looked again at last night’s thread and agree that it could have been left to stand and so for that, we’re sorry and will be in touch again with the OP today.

Decisions about threads where an OP is having a crisis are the hardest call for us. We’re all human and it’s our instinct to want to help as much as possible but we must consider that a poster may be better off seeking (sometimes urgent) professional help and it can also be a lot of responsibility to bear for other posters - which was the motivation behind last night’s deletion. We always contact an OP via PM when we take their thread down to explain why, along with links to agencies which offer support.

Thanks again for your comments - we’ll be reviewing this today.

Don't leave the thing about the samaritans! Good luck.

I think it's right to have this policy. I didn't see the original thread but i have seen threads on other forums where a fantasist used a suicidal opening post to create a massive fictional melodrama sucking in the falsely claimed support and sympathy of hundreds of site members like an emotional vampire. whilst we do get melodramatic trolls here with less dramatic opening gambits, the ban is a good thing. posting anonymously to the whole world is not a good way to get support if you are in a genuine crisis - anyone can answer and they may not have good intentions - a nasty person could even reply encouraging the person with a crisis to go ahead and harm themselves, others may give well meaning but badly thought out advice which makes things worse. far better for the genuine person to appeal to an individual with training and backup.

maybe we should all be making donations to Samaritans if they don't have the resources to answer calls when needed?