When someone tries to kill themselves on a forum

[Scrotnig]

This is something I've read about happening many times, but until late last night I never saw it actually happen on a forum I'm a member of...

 

I'm reading a quite a busy forum that I'm a member of, I don't post there all that much, but someone has had a thread going about depression for some weeks. Late last night he says he's got some tablets and some alcohol and he's had enough so he's going to down the lot.

 

A series of ever more incoherent posts ensues, followed by silence.

 

Some amateur sleuthing then goes on as members attempt to discover where he might be...he'd posted his real name at one point some years ago which helped. Eventually some possible locations are posted, someone tells the police, and a couple of members who are actually police get involved and move it forwards.

 

This morning it transpires he is ok, police and ambulance found him and took him to hospital. He was in a bad way but was brought round and is now back home.

 

A happy outcome but it was all pretty terrifying at the time. You just 'know' when these things are real and when they are fake, and this most definitely real.

 

Shook me up a bit. Upsetting that people get themselves into that sort of state.

 

Anyone else ever seen this sort of thing go on on any forum they've been a member of?

[SneakyDave]

I've seen a lot of attention getting from various members, such as people attempting to fake their death, or faking a family member death to garner some internet attention, but nothing like you've described.

 

A few people I knew from a couple of forums committed suicide, but wete long gone from forums before that.

 

From what I've seen, the people that are seriously depressed are not chatting on forums about random topics.

 

It's tough to make that decision to break the privacy wall and have somebody checked out, but I'd rather do that and be wrong, than do nothing.

[Scrotnig]

I've seen a lot of attention getting from various members, such as people attempting to fake their death, or faking a family member death to garner some internet attention, but nothing like you've described.

 

A few people I knew from a couple of forums committed suicide, but wete long gone from forums before that.

 

From what I've seen, the people that are seriously depressed are not chatting on forums about random topics.

 

It's tough to make that decision to break the privacy wall and have somebody checked out, but I'd rather do that and be wrong, than do nothing.

Yeah, this was the dilemma last night. Luckily some of the more regular and 'senior' posters on there stepped up to the plate and did what needed to be done. I just watched from the sidelines and offered support where I could.

 

The poster concerned posted quickly this morning to let everyone know he was ok....he is terribly ashamed and apologetic but he needn't be.

 

I have no doubt that the forum almost certainly saved his life. It's a sobering thought which, for once, has left me a bit short of any valid comment to make.

[SneakyDave]

Assholes and trolls can sometimes make a positive influence.