That's not belittling people who use the internet. That's belittling people who find a life changing bit of content while perusing the internet.
Take what I say at face value, don't extrapolate.
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Can PostSecret and Facebook Save a Life?
- Thread starter anjinha
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That's not belittling people who use the internet. That's belittling people who find a life changing bit of content while perusing the internet.
Take what I say at face value, don't extrapolate.
I got to side with TuffLuffJimmy here. What exactly does a facebook group against suicide accomplish? Do people contemplating suicide really think to themselves "I wish a bunch of people that I don't know and who have never met me would say they care"?
Should we start up an Internet where people sign that they don't want evil to exist? Maybe we can get rid of evil as long as we get enough signatures?
For real change to happen, real things need to be done. Joining a facebook group and making T-Shirts is completely superficial. If we want to change suicide rates, we can start with calling the people with think might be having a hard time and talking to them. But clicking a link that says "I hate suicide" is simply a waste of time.
P-Worm
Should we start up an Internet where people sign that they don't want evil to exist? Maybe we can get rid of evil as long as we get enough signatures?
For real change to happen, real things need to be done. Joining a facebook group and making T-Shirts is completely superficial. If we want to change suicide rates, we can start with calling the people with think might be having a hard time and talking to them. But clicking a link that says "I hate suicide" is simply a waste of time.
P-Worm
so you've been in the shoes of someone wanting to commit suicide, and can say that that thought doesn't run through their mind at some point? I'm willing to bet that when you're that desperate and that close to the edge, anyone telling you they care is a boost. Especially messages like “If I knew when you’d be at the bridge, I’d drive all the way from Ohio to meet you there, and hold you until you changed your mind.”
this doesn't really make sense in this context....
Not everyone is simply clicking the link. Many people are leaving supportive messages, and we've already seen that those can make a difference (even if it is only for the sad and lame).
How about a little "expert" opinion here. I've worked with suicidal people of all ages for many years and I'm saddened by the negativity I'm reading in this thread. While I understand your cynicism I don't think you understand suicide at all. The primary motivator for individuals that are genuinely contemplating ending their life is loss of hope. Whatever it is they are stuggling with seems like it will never end and there is no belief that they can ever get past it. They don't think or feel recovery is possible.
In these circumstances one of the most effective and successful ways to support the person is to genuinely join with them in their struggle without judgement and provide hope that they can endure and survive.
To say the internet can not be a starting place for someone who is suicidal is just ridiculous. We never know what is going to give that person the hope they need just to make it through the next 24 hours. I've had patients tell me they were ready to "do it", but they held off because of a TV commercial they saw or a seemingly insignificant act of kindness they happened to witness.
The internet is simply a tool. If someone uses a group or a website to connect with genuine people then it is helpful. Saying a suicide website is "just text and pictures on screen" is like saying a suicide hotline is just a "voice on the phone". The point is to use as many ways as possible to encourage people who are suicidal to take the initiative to get the help they need.
If a fleeting commercial or the lady at mcdonalds saying thanks makes you quit contemplating suicide you probably weren't that serious about it to start with.
"Your honor, regarding the claim that the individual in question does not truly understand what he is talking about... may I present exhibit A."
"While this evidence does provide proof of insentivity and arrogance, we simply present it for the purpose of demonstrating ignorance. The plaintiff has obviously waved his right to voluntary self-incrimination. "
Truly sad. I sincerely hope that if you ever find yourself in need of support and encouragement that people show you more compassion than you are presenting here.
"While this evidence does provide proof of insentivity and arrogance, we simply present it for the purpose of demonstrating ignorance. The plaintiff has obviously waved his right to voluntary self-incrimination. "
Truly sad. I sincerely hope that if you ever find yourself in need of support and encouragement that people show you more compassion than you are presenting here.
Agreed.
"Your honor, regarding the claim that the individual in question does not truly understand what he is talking about... may I present exhibit A."
"While this evidence does provide proof of insentivity and arrogance, we simply present it for the purpose of demonstrating ignorance. The plaintiff has obviously waved his right to voluntary self-incrimination. "
Truly sad. I sincerely hope that if you ever find yourself in need of support and encouragement that people show you more compassion than you are presenting here.
I don't think you understand at all what we're saying. Of course I wouldn't brush off someone I think, or is suicidal, but I definitely wouldn't think to say "here man, check out this facebook group. It's got two million people and none of them want you to kill yourself." Suicide help does not come from a facebook group. Simple as that.
Just as you know god doesn't exist. The simplest answer is usually the answer, skunk. I also don't know Facebook does not cure AIDS. Would you like to debate that one?
You're comparing curing AIDS with suicide prevention? Hardly the same do you not think?
What I'm trying to help some of you understand is that people who struggle with suicidal ideation and depression often don't disclose their feelings to others. For this reason it is commonly an anonymous medium that serves as the first step towards getting the help they need. The information and encouragement they receive through that website, pamphlet, televison show, movie, book, etc. helps them find the courage to reach out and talk to an actual person.
I don't think anyone in this thread, especially the OP, is stating that PostSecret or a Facebook group are going to be all any suicidal or depressed individual needs to find their way back to positive mental health. It's a starting place, a way to provide education, awareness, and hope, not a substitute for treament. Don't be confused, there is a distinct difference between raising awareness about an issue, raising money for that cause, providing education about effective treatment, and the actual process of treatment itself. C'mon, seriously, no one thinks that buying a Lance Armstrong bracelet is going to make you lose weight, but going on his website might give you some needed information and motivation to call a personal trainer, join a gym, or set up an appointment with a nutritionist. It's the same for any other website or group that targets an issue and in this specific case the issue is suicide.
My other concern with some of the posts in this thread is the careless manner and negativity regarding this story and it's relationship to the issue. I mention the key aspect of helping people find hope because on a public forum like this you never know who is reading what you are writing and what is going on in their life. Someone could be struggling with suicidal ideation, do a net search, and find this thread. The negative remarks made could be all the demotivation or rationalization a person suffering with depression needs to dismiss the oppotunity for help. Instead of thinking, "hey, maybe I should check out that website or group and see what they are saying" the negative, cynical, and stigmatizing comments made could easily serve to only further their thinking and feeling that "no one cares, they don't understand, something's wrong with me if I can't get over this" etc. etc..
The whole reason this is a positive story is that people want to be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem, or worse yet, a cynical bystander who sits on the sideline doing nothing but spouting negative commentary.
I know no such thing. I simply see no reason to suppose that any deity exists.
No. Suicide help comes from, and needs to come from everywhere. And at all times. People need to know that they have hope and are not alone in feeling how they do. Using popular media to spread this message and raise awareness is perfectly valid initiative.
With one in 10-20 people who attempt suicide actually dieing I don't have the sympathy to waste. If people were serious about dieing they would choose a proper method.
Truly sad. I sincerely hope that if you ever find yourself in need of support and encouragement that people show you more compassion than you are presenting here.
I don't need compassion, I have an ego.
Well, I'm not suicidal or anything, but when I was in law school, it sucked. Really sucked. Oftentimes I'd surf the internet to read about other people's experiences during law school, and how they thought it sucked, too. And I occasionally would post here (and on another forum) complaining about how much it sucks, or asking people for exit strategies, etc.
The responses here and on the other forum helped in a small way - it shows that people felt the same way, and also showed others who have ideas or simply support. It wasn't much, many of those people probably spent five seconds reading my post, and another second or two typing a quick response.
I survived law school. No, the above wasn't the primary support, or even close. But they're something.
I'm a (mostly) normal person who doesn't contemplate suicide, but I think the underlying concepts are pretty similar except on a different scale, with them it's life, not law school.
Even if someone contemplating suicide decides to put it off one more day after reading the feel-good stuff going on, that's worth it, I think. That's another 24 hours for someone to step in, or even for them to change their minds. Sort of like in that movie "The Mist," where if the father just waits a few more minutes before shooting his son, the army would've came rolling in to blow away the aliens.
I'm just saying I don't agree with those who say this is worthless, and that only sad and lame people peruse the internet for support.
The responses here and on the other forum helped in a small way - it shows that people felt the same way, and also showed others who have ideas or simply support. It wasn't much, many of those people probably spent five seconds reading my post, and another second or two typing a quick response.
I survived law school. No, the above wasn't the primary support, or even close. But they're something.
I'm a (mostly) normal person who doesn't contemplate suicide, but I think the underlying concepts are pretty similar except on a different scale, with them it's life, not law school.
Even if someone contemplating suicide decides to put it off one more day after reading the feel-good stuff going on, that's worth it, I think. That's another 24 hours for someone to step in, or even for them to change their minds. Sort of like in that movie "The Mist," where if the father just waits a few more minutes before shooting his son, the army would've came rolling in to blow away the aliens.
I'm just saying I don't agree with those who say this is worthless, and that only sad and lame people peruse the internet for support.
... I've gotten an infraction because of you, and I really want to do it again here.
But I'll leave it up to your imagination.
Callous =/= clever.
You may need compassion on that score alone. Some egos are a huge burden.
The only thing you have is an entirely transparent and escalating compulsion to try and inflame threads.
Hello bait, let me introduce you to self control and refusal to fan the flames.
Well, it looks like we've come upon something we can agree on. Except I would use the term Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
Please keep in mind that this is not PRSI and I don't believe the OP wants it to go there since that is not where it was originally posted.
... I've gotten an infraction because of you, and I really want to do it again here.
But I'll leave it up to your imagination.
It wasn't by my hand, as I don't report posts.
Someone else made you get an infraction? No one here can make you get an infraction.... I've gotten an infraction because of you, and I really want to do it again here.
But I'll leave it up to your imagination.
It's always funny when people without PHDs diagnose people they have never met through an online forum.
Fair enough, I'll be on my way. Go and save the world with facebook!
Made? Make? Where'd that word come from?
Ahh, wait a minute. Perhaps you're right and we all bleeding heart types are delusional. I mean, I couldn't see the word in my own post.
Thank you for saving the day - I'll be seeing a psychologist shortly!
First, you don't have to have a doctorate or be a psychiatrist to diagnose, just a professional license. That means LCSW, LPC, or LMFT. As far as diagnosing over the internet, well, I'm just that good.
Come on - I'm all for deporting illegals, but that doesn't mean that I want them to die or kill themselves.
Have a little compassion for your fellow travelers, we only sojourn here for a few decades. Make the most of it!