what on earht are you all doing wih tis suiceide stuff

[FluffyMummy123]

Message withdrawn

""I would contact the local health team and that person would be seen that day"."

I wasn't - I saw my GP was prescribed fluoxetine and told "see you in 4 weeks" . A&E nigh on impossible for me to get to, and I would probably still never ring the Samaritans if in that place again as I avoid making phone calls as much as possible, except for inane chatting with friends.

Infact I only went to the GP in the end as one of my RL friends called round one day when I was so intoxicated I could hardly look after my children . Before that point, where I had felt totally unable tell my friends what was happening - MN had been the only place for me to let any of it out. My friend made the appointment for me, and took me there, I would probably have never managed to go on my own - as it was she told the GP what was happening, I only managed to answer "yes" or "no" to the GP's questions.

Thankfully MN was here for me (as I had no-one else to turn to) when I was at my lowest and helped me through until I was strong enough to tell my RL friends what was really happening and get the professional help I need. Sadly even with MN and RL friends I still ended up in hospital after taking an OD.

If my threads when I was at my lowest had been deleted as it was deemed that I "needed to get professional help/call Samaritans etc etc" I don't like to think what I may well have done

Again, it will be interesting when MNHQ is able to respond.

Were you here for all that Gina Ford business, dittany?

Because if you were you would be the last person to say I was scaremongering.

In fact, I think you're being really naive and a bit short-sighted if you don't think that there is no legal ramifications to things like this coming up on the WWW.

sorry my post is rather disjointed - hope it still makes sense.

And dittany, the laws that can apply don't even exist in many cases.

That's why there's such as a phenomenon as a 'test case'.

No one else did, either, dittany, until she brought legal action.

We had to be banned from mentioning her at all.

Hence, I can see why MNHQ has remained silent on this so far.

Of course, MNHQ will consult learned friends and let us know in due course
but I am pretty sure the legal argument will not apply as we are in the UK.

Are there any British precedents for forums/websites being sued for someone doing themselves harm?
I doubt it.
Just like no one who has spilled hot coffee on themselves has managed to successfully sue McD in the UK.
That's the difference between US laws and British ones.

In the UK it's the libel laws that are draconian - hence the Gina Ford case.
It's very different from this scenario.

Expat is right (BTW, I am not grovelling!)

It's so much easier to distance yourself from what is going on on your website if you (ie MNHQ) haven't commented on a particular situation.

For now it is different, DaddyJ, but there's nothing to stop anyone from trying it out.

Again, I'm sure MNHQ is seeking advice, but I see cod's point in starting the thread and bringing up the issue.

yes but dittany, how do you know people can help? and how can you GUARANTEE people will always be helpful AND that the poster actually NEEDS the help that posters can give? I don't think we are in a position to judge that and I don't think it is fair to assume that mumsnet is the place for that.

And yes, I have extensive experience of mental health services through my totally mad family!

and expat - I'm very glad that when you've been in your lowest places you've had the courage to pick up the phone and call the Samaritans - because I sure as hell wouldn't have (I have enough trouble picking up the phone to make a regular Drs appointment or get a quote for plastering walls when I'm feeling ok let alone making a call to the Samaritans when I'm low!).

But what Slubberdegullion said a few posts back is right surely? It is a natural and necessary response to keep someone talking when they seem to be on the point of acting on their suicidal thoughts. Of course - I agreed earlier many times - it is better for a trained MH professional to do this - but suicidal people don't just up and find one if they have no insight into how bad they are. And there is no easy mechanism for intervention on this site as others have said. So the risk is leaving a vacuum.

It isn't easy. I don't think I want to get involved again. But faced with a plausible need and some knowledge about what might help (not a lot), I might intervene.

FAQ I'm sorry your GP was crap.

It is obvious that loads of mners going through horrific times recieve invaluable support and help here.

fwiw I don't think there should be an 'either or' situation with regards to mn vs samaritans or health service.

I still think though that if someone starts an OP with specific suicidal ideations that the latter is the much better option than the former, and somehow that is what the OP should be being told...in conjunction with what other advice other posters have to offer.

where did I say I phoned Samaritans, FAQ?

because it was nowhere.

instead i sat on a beach with my 3rd bottle of wine and waited for the tide to come in.

the nurse ran and got the doctor in when DH drove me there for thrush.

I'm also not sure it is helpful to criticise suicidal people for bringing their problems here and burdening ordinary MNers. People who are suicidal are, by default, sick. They are not rational, compassionate and thinking about what's best for the community at large. Nor should they be. what they should be doing is thinking about how to help themselves. Perhaps this feels like a way to do so.

I don't think anyone is criticising as such. I think the view of some people is that this may not be the right place and it might not fair on those people who get involved.

I also agree with FinS though: it is difficult to know whether the raft of comments do help. This is the point where we need more experienced and trained people to intervene I think.

I agree with Madamez's POV on this.

It would be truly devastating to a desperate person to have their thread pulled and be told they could not post on here.

Of course people must be told to get professional help, but it is incredibly comforting to someone at their lowest ebb to hear from others who've been there and got through it.

I speak as a former mental health nurse and Samaritan.

I think the people who get involved have to take responsibility for themselves though Beaulocks. They make a choice to try and help.