Suicide- Should it be discussed openly.

Wibbs

Darlughda wrote: »

I totally agree with you Almighty Cushion, with all of your previous post.

I was just stating a fact that many people who use Boards.ie may also be working in a voluntary capacity, anonymously, as'highly trained' samaritans in their spare time.

It would be great if there was a place where it...suicide could be discussed with sensitive and aware moderation.

I don't think it could ever work, or at least safely enough. Forums are not one on one, anyone can hop in. That's what's great and bad about them. Sure you could premoderate, preapprove or not, all posts but then the workload goes up. Even then who is to say that an approved post that seems fine on the outside could tip someone over the edge.

Who makes that call? A mod? I'm thinking no. I dont care how trained they are, even if they're a psychiatrist. it's just too much to ask basically. Psychiatrist's will tell you they can lose people to suicide and that's one on one with their huge standard of medical training and experience and therapies to back them up. You can see similar on the Bio/Med forum. Three docs on there who will lock medical advice threads on sight. They clearly know their stuff and may even be pretty sure they know what's wrong with a poster, but they won't even suggest an aspirin.

Then you do lose someone what happens then? Their family could sue the forum/community. The mod or other users would be affected badly by it. Lots of collateral damage.

I'd also be concerned that fake suicide threads could start up for the attention seeking troll type and that could trigger someone reading that.

Handsome Bob

schumacher wrote: »

Suicide should be discussed but people get very offended and start bringing in personal tradegies if other people disagree with their point of view. Irishbob got banned even though his statements were general, they werent aimed at any one poster. Other posters attacked his posts calling them ****. People should respect peoples opinions even if they are notheir own.

What? So what if people bring their personal experiences into it? They have been either directly or indirectly affected by suicide, they have experienced it, so they know what they are talking about. It's like writing a essay, if you are going to stay general on the topic no-one will give a shit. However if you give examples and case studies, it just hits home the point way more effectively. I have absolutely no issue with that, give me that anyday over an opinion without foundation.

renraw

I've lost four friends to suicide, we saw no warning signs for 3 of them but for another, we did. It is not a selfish act because suicidal people have just lost sight and hope of the future. Unless you've been in that dark place where you cannot see any end, of course your judegment will be impaired. Regardless if theres a God or nothingness there, people who commit suicide are broken hearted and their spirit is broken with nothing but pain in their eyes for the future.

We cannot sit here and condemn them but hope that their suffering is over and at last, that they have found relief. Everyone has a destiny and each death is planned. Such a plan could be to die of natural death or in some way, to commit suicide. Nobody can be sure of our fate and on how we are going to die. That is a huge question!

schumacher

LZ5by5 wrote: »

What? So what if people bring their personal experiences into it? They have been either directly or indirectly affected by suicide, they have experienced it, so they know what they are talking about. It's like writing a essay, if you are going to stay general on the topic no-one will give a shit. However if you give examples and case studies, it just hits home the point way more effectively. I have absolutely no issue with that, give me that anyday over an opinion without foundation.

If you read the rest of my post I was talking in relation to a person being banned from the forum. Just because you have being affected by suicide doesnt mean you know what you are talking about. You may know what you are talking about in relation to that person but not in relation to everyone who commits suicide. Everybody is different. What works for one person may not work for another re treatment. Peoples views on suicide is an opinion even if they have experienced it beacuse they are not a qualified doctor who has studied in that area.

Reflector

Of my own experience,

As a teen I contemplated suicide, I was about 16 and gay and hated that fact, everywhere I turned I couldn't find any answers. I came out to people and still I felt so **** about it. I wasn't stereotypically gay and all gay people in the media were screaming queens swinging handbags which I did not relate to at all. Then one day it occurred to me that the answer to all this unhapiness was to take my own life. This was a solution to a problem that I couldn't find an answer to. I suddenly felt happy, that I had come to a solution and that all my unhapiness and suffering would finally come to an end. I made a plan.
Anyway ten years later and I'm still here, I had a friend who basically hung around me a lot during those few weeks and I suppose I lost the nerve. Anyway today I couldn't imagine a worse thing that I could have done. My family would have been devestated and now that all the nieces and nephews are arriving I'm sure it would have placed a dark cloud over all happy family occassions. I have made some great friends and fully accept myself thanks to a changing society and close friends.
If you go on to the LGB forum here you can read about a few different guys who have posted with similar stories to my own. They are gay and not out and as they call it "straight acting. In this day and age they cannot see past this fact and that they can be happy. I'm sure they mention suicide and perhaps they wont go through with it but if even one does it is such a preventable tradegy. This is one reason why young gay men kill themselves but I think everyone has known someone lost to suicide.
A girlfriend breaks up, hopelessness, despair. People need to feel that all these problems can be openly discussed and although the samaritans are a great resource I think that more of these help lines would be a great idea and some that dont have obvious religious connections.
Someone posted about the ads for speeding and how they are effective, absolutley there should be more ads for suicide and discussion, there was a campaign before and there should be one at least twice a year in the media. I'd say money is the reasons why as these organisations have tight budgets and I always give money to aware whenever I have the chance as they really are saving lives.

Daroxtar

Tigger wrote: »

many singole vehicle single occupant deaths are suicide but are never reported as such long roads witha wall where y'd hve to be stupid or desperate to crash

when you see a wall and wonder how did a car crash there you'll see what i mean

I have to take a bit of a stance on this, I had a crash many moons ago on the straightest widest stretch of road for miles around. I had recently broken up with a girlfriend and had been pretty pissed off. If i had been killed some people would have said suicide. Bollox, i fell asleep at the wheel after a long day at work. Not every "single vehicle crash" is suicide. In fact the vast majority aren't. (needless to say i tend to avoid taking 40 winks whilst driving nowadays)

~me~

I think those who call people 'cowards' or 'selfish' for commiting suicide dont really grasp the whole situation the way someone feeling desperate would. without sounding like im glorifying it or anything, it has to be said that making the decision to actually do it is a huge decision (often made in a moment of weakness or absolute helplessness) but it takes alot of courage to make that decision, albeit the wrong decision. and alot of people genuinely see it as 'everyone is better off without me' and they honestly believe that they're doing right by the people they love. so its not always a case of they want out and they took the easy route. sometimes they think they're doing the right thing for everyone.

ive been affected by suicide and have seen the absolute devastation it causes to the people left behind. i think there needs to be more talk of suicide in schools as part of pastrol care or health or something like that. but it needs to focus on ways out of depression rather than 'dont do it, you'll miss out on x, y and z' cause anyone who thinks of suicide wont give a toss about missing out on things like that, some may even dread those very things as they feel they've no friends to go with, no reason to be there, etc. it needs to be more centred around why suicide is appealing to people, how it afffects the people left behind and where to go or what to do if you feel suicidal and the fact that any depression will eventually lift if you get through it whereas if you end your life in a depression thats it, it only just carries on to your loved ones, it doesnt end.

i dont think helplines and stuff work for adults right now though tbh. ive always thought that the hardest thing for someone in that situation to do is to take the step to ask for help so the helplines only help those who take that step. there needs to be more talk of making it ok to ask for help. kids are told about childline and the concerts etc. reinforce the 'welcoming' factor of the helpline and kids generally dont feel as ashamed to ask for help, whereas adults wouldnt know what to say or who to call or what will happen if they call cause they're not kids that need looking after, if that makes sense.

also, the more people say 'suicide is the easy way out, only cowards do it' the more people in need will shy away as they know people will judge them for their feelings. and as much as you say 'its more brave to start over and get help', people that are so desperate to want to end their life cant see that far- they see the bleak life they're in now and the people judging them now- they dont think 'well if i get through this people will be proud', if they thought like that and believed they could turn their lives around then suicide wouldnt be an option for them.

thats my 2 cents anyway!

sweetheart

I was in quite a rut a few years back and attempted suicide. I hung myself but luckily was saved in time but spent three days in a coma. It maddens me to read some of these posts and read people rambling on about how its a cowards way out. I'm sorry but nobody can ever understand the feeling of depression unless they suffer from it themselves. Yes I attempted suicide. Yes I was depressed. Yes I was saved. And yes I regret it now.Every day of my life when I look at my son, who was only a baby at the time I think to myself about all the ' what if's '. I still suffer from depression, but only take medication for it when I feel realy bad and that suits me fine because I let depression beat me once but not again. I have turned my life around in no way i ever thought possible. I know I'm rambling but in my opinion suicide should be highlighted more.

~me~

sweetheart wrote: »

I was in quite a rut a few years back and attempted suicide. I hung myself but luckily was saved in time but spent three days in a coma. It maddens me to read some of these posts and read people rambling on about how its a cowards way out. I'm sorry but nobody can ever understand the feeling of depression unless they suffer from it themselves. Yes I attempted suicide. Yes I was depressed. Yes I was saved. And yes I regret it now.Every day of my life when I look at my son, who was only a baby at the time I think to myself about all the ' what if's '. I still suffer from depression, but only take medication for it when I feel realy bad and that suits me fine because I let depression beat me once but not again. I have turned my life around in no way i ever thought possible. I know I'm rambling but in my opinion suicide should be highlighted more.

i know a young child whos mum commited suicide and its heartbreaking to think of how they're going to have to tell the child why shes gone and all that so i can tell you now you're boy will be so thankful you're still with him, at the end of the day no matter how **** you feel you're little boy will always need you.

Handsome Bob

schumacher wrote: »

If you read the rest of my post I was talking in relation to a person being banned from the forum. Just because you have being affected by suicide doesnt mean you know what you are talking about. You may know what you are talking about in relation to that person but not in relation to everyone who commits suicide. Everybody is different. What works for one person may not work for another re treatment. Peoples views on suicide is an opinion even if they have experienced it beacuse they are not a qualified doctor who has studied in that area.

Oh I read your entire post and irish bob is a perfect example of someone who doesn't know what he's talking about. Anyone who thinks suicide is a "noble act" quite simply has never had to deal with suicide in his life.

I know what I'm talking about in the sense of what of feels like to be indirectly affected by suicide, as do countless others do. I will concede that I don't know what goes on in the mind of the suicidal, I wish I did as I wish they could talk to someone about it so they can be helped through it.

sweetheart

i appreciate those words and the fact that you havent judged me but to be honest I'm the one who is thankful that I got a second chance and that i get to see my son growing up.

Snakeblood

sweetheart wrote: »

i appreciate those words and the fact that you havent judged me but to be honest I'm the one who is thankful that I got a second chance and that i get to see my son growing up.

Good for you, really. That's all.:)

schumacher

LZ5by5 wrote: »

Oh I read your entire post and irish bob is a perfect example of someone who doesn't know what he's talking about. Anyone who thinks suicide is a "noble act" quite simply has never had to deal with suicide in his life.

I know what I'm talking about in the sense of what of feels like to be indirectly affected by suicide, as do countless others do. I will concede that I don't know what goes on in the mind of the suicidal, I wish I did as I wish they could talk to someone about it so they can be helped through it.

I think his point was taken out of context. He didnt suggest that everyone who done it committed a noble act. He made the point that if Hitler had of done it before starting WW2 it would have been noble. Of course losing someone by suicide will never be considered a noble act by the person's loved ones, maybe just by others.

Darlughda

Wibbs wrote: »

I don't think it could ever work, or at least safely enough. Forums are not one on one, anyone can hop in. That's what's great and bad about them. Sure you could premoderate, preapprove or not, all posts but then the workload goes up. Even then who is to say that an approved post that seems fine on the outside could tip someone over the edge.

Who makes that call? A mod? I'm thinking no. I dont care how trained they are, even if they're a psychiatrist. it's just too much to ask basically. Psychiatrist's will tell you they can lose people to suicide and that's one on one with their huge standard of medical training and experience and therapies to back them up. You can see similar on the Bio/Med forum. Three docs on there who will lock medical advice threads on sight. They clearly know their stuff and may even be pretty sure they know what's wrong with a poster, but they won't even suggest an aspirin.

Then you do lose someone what happens then? Their family could sue the forum/community. The mod or other users would be affected badly by it. Lots of collateral damage.

I'd also be concerned that fake suicide threads could start up for the attention seeking troll type and that could trigger someone reading that.

Many thanks for that clarification, Wibbs.

It certainly is a very difficult area, I suspect one that may emerge time and time again on Boards.

I would be really keen to see the response of a genuine professional who works in the ongoing suicide prevention policy area.

The Samaritans do great work, however, they are only voluntary people for a few hours a week, with a very basic training in listening skills.

I personally think that in the event of a potential suicide posting, there should be at least one decent moderator who can redirect that person immediately, and with great sensitivety in their choice of words.

I have seen expressions like ' a dark and twisted place' used by a moderator to describe suicidal despair and that is very dangerous, as there is a good chance that the self-hatred and revulsion of an individual is overpowering them at that time.
In the wrong circumstances that particular example could be used as further 'proof' that the person is dark and twisted themselves.

By the way, many thanks to all who have posted their individual stories. It is great to learn that many people can break away from this experience and be able to tell their stories. Maybe this has the potential to help others who are going through hell.

taxi wife

http://irishtaxi.org/forum/index.php?topic=2343.0

http://irishtaxi.org/forum/index.php?topic=2445.0

sweetheart

sweetheart wrote: »

I was in quite a rut a few years back and attempted suicide. I hung myself but luckily was saved in time but spent three days in a coma. It maddens me to read some of these posts and read people rambling on about how its a cowards way out. I'm sorry but nobody can ever understand the feeling of depression unless they suffer from it themselves.

Indeed.
What makes me even more angry is some of the hypocrisy. People go on and on about how bad THEY would feel. I rarely hear a word of empathy to suggest they understand a person is going through such horrible s* that they want to take their own life. That's not a light decision, that's going against every single grain of instinct in your own body. Trying to guilt trip someone already feeling this bad - e.g. "imagine how xyz would feel" without trying to deal with how the depressed person feels just makes me so angry. :mad: People just think of how it would affect THEM.

sam34

stepbar wrote: »

I agree that the state of mental health services are diabolical in this country. And access to same are also diabolical (public). Like most things if you've got the money, services are readily available.

i dont agree with this.

the public psychiatric services are underfunded and understaffed, certainly. thats not in dispute. there are not enough beds, psychiatrists, nurses, psychologists, social workers etc etc etc.

the promised funds have not been delivered.

the promised policies have not been implemented because of this.

but the services are there, flawed though tehy may be.

psychiatric services are more accessible than most other medical services.

anyone can be seen at any time of the day or night, in an emergency. no service will refuse to assess someone who is suicidal.(this leads to abuse of the service at times, with patients or their GPs claiming they are suicidal, just to jump the routine waiting list queue, but thats another issue)

the private services are, in my opinion, unsatisfactory. think about it - there are two private psychiatric hospitals in this country and they are both in dublin. if you are a patient living in donegal, and you get admitted to one of these units in dublin, when you are discharged you will return home, hundreds of miles away. you wont have a community nurse calling to you from dublin, you probably wont be trekking back to dublin for regular out-patient clinics. you will be on your own. whereas, if you had been in your local public service, you would have community back-up after discharge.


im not trying to say the public service is perfect, it isnt. as an insider in it, im very well aware of its flaws. but it is better than the private option, in my opinion.

sam34

docmol wrote: »

If someone takes the considered view that they don't want to continue living, who are we to stop them? I'm not talking about a spur of the moment thing (my partner left me, I can't go on) but a decision reached over time and with reflection (maybe even talked over with open-minded friends/family) Strangely enough, admiting suicidal thoughts can legally have you detained/drugged/electrocuted without legal recourse, on the say of a couple of psychiatrists. Strange that some people with suicidal thoughts don't seek psychiatric help...

this is sensationalist and misleading.

there was a new mental health act implemented in ireland in late 2006.

"admitting suicidal thoughts" is not enough to have you admitted to hospital against your will, much less to have you "drugged or eloctrocuted".

to be detained, the legal criteria are that one has to firstly suffer from a mental illness, and secondly pose a danger to oneself because of that mental illness. (there are other circumstances under which people can be detained, such as risk to others, but thats not relevant to this topic)

but, if someone who doesnt have a mental illness takes a rational decision to kill themselves, for whatever reason, then they cannot be detained against their will. it would be illegal to do so. it just cannot be done under our current legislation.

you mentioned that people can be "detained/drugged/electrocuted without legal recourse" - again, this is inaccurate.

if someone is detained against their will, then yes, they can be medicated against their will and they can be given ECT or "shock treatment". (calling it electrocution is sensationalist hyperbole). however, this is not done without legal recourse.

anyone detained against their will is allocated a solicitor, (paid by the state) who represents that patient at a tribunal hearing. every detention will go to an independent tribunal hearing, where the legal issues around the detention are reviewed, as are the clinical issues - the patients treating psychiatrist gives a report, as does an independent psychiatrist, the patient can also attend and speak themselves, should they wish to do so.

anyone being given ect against their will are seen by 2 independent psychiatrists.

so to say that they are drugged/electrocuted without legal recourse is inaccurate.

Elessar

Sam are you aware of how often ECT is actually done in the state? And its effectiveness?

I understood it to be a last resort option for a person and it must be horrific to have it done against your will, under general anesthetic or not.

sam34

Elessar wrote: »

Sam are you aware of how often ECT is actually done in the state? And its effectiveness?

I understood it to be a last resort option for a person and it must be horrific to have it done against your will, under general anesthetic or not.

"under general anaesthetic or not" ???

it is ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS done under general anaesthetic. and there are meds given which mean the patient is not thrashing about wildly on teh table, as is portrayed in teh movies.

and yes, i am aware of how effective it is and how often it is done.

i have given it to patients many times.

i would have no hesitation in recommending it for a family member, or having it myself, it it was indicated. if i needed it, but was not consenting to it because of the severity of my illness, i would like to think that someone would step up to the plate and arrange this treatment for me rather than prolong my illness and suffering more.

i have seen it save peoples lives - people who are seriously suicidal, people who are not eating or drinking and are in renal failure or have electrolyte abnormalities etc.

it is not the inhumane barbaric treatment taht its detractors claim it is.

Elessar

I never said it was, I know how it is done. But regardless it would be awful for the person to be physically forced into the operating room knowing they are going to be shocked.

How effective is it then? Long lasting? Is it still a last resort? Side effects? Your post seems to imply it is not uncommon!

gordon_gekko

sam34 wrote: »

this is sensationalist and misleading.

there was a new mental health act implemented in ireland in late 2006.

"admitting suicidal thoughts" is not enough to have you admitted to hospital against your will, much less to have you "drugged or eloctrocuted".

to be detained, the legal criteria are that one has to firstly suffer from a mental illness, and secondly pose a danger to oneself because of that mental illness. (there are other circumstances under which people can be detained, such as risk to others, but thats not relevant to this topic)

but, if someone who doesnt have a mental illness takes a rational decision to kill themselves, for whatever reason, then they cannot be detained against their will. it would be illegal to do so. it just cannot be done under our current legislation.

you mentioned that people can be "detained/drugged/electrocuted without legal recourse" - again, this is inaccurate.

if someone is detained against their will, then yes, they can be medicated against their will and they can be given ECT or "shock treatment". (calling it electrocution is sensationalist hyperbole). however, this is not done without legal recourse.

anyone detained against their will is allocated a solicitor, (paid by the state) who represents that patient at a tribunal hearing. every detention will go to an independent tribunal hearing, where the legal issues around the detention are reviewed, as are the clinical issues - the patients treating psychiatrist gives a report, as does an independent psychiatrist, the patient can also attend and speak themselves, should they wish to do so.

anyone being given ect against their will are seen by 2 independent psychiatrists.

so to say that they are drugged/electrocuted without legal recourse is inaccurate.

+1

detaining someone indefinatley is almost impossible in ireland , the laws are extrmley liberal leaning in this regard , you litterally have to kill someone before you are put in the nut house and the key thrown away

sam34

gordon_gekko wrote: »

+1

detaining someone indefinatley is almost impossible in ireland , the laws are extrmley liberal leaning in this regard , you litterally have to kill someone before you are put in the nut house and the key thrown away

thats not a true reflection, to be fair.

you cannot be detained indefinitely in psychiatric care, under any circumstances. teh initial period of any detention is three weeks, then this can be renewed for up to three months, then for a further period etc.

the longest any renewal period can be is 12 months.

each renewed detention is subject to an independent tribunal hearing, and can be overturned by that tribunal.

however, the laws are not "extremely liberal". the mental health act is there to protect the patient and soicety at large from those who may be dangerous due to an illness.

since teh new act came in, there have been over 2000 people detained every year in this country. thats not rare.

it is true to say that noone is locked up forever more these days - thats a good thing. however, those who need to be detained are being detained, with appropriate use of teh mental health legislation.

sam34

Elessar wrote: »

I never said it was, I know how it is done. But regardless it would be awful for the person to be physically forced into the operating room knowing they are going to be shocked.

How effective is it then? Long lasting? Is it still a last resort? Side effects? Your post seems to imply it is not uncommon!

in reality, i have never seen anyone being dragged kicking and screaming into the ect room. people generally accept that its happening, once it has been adequately explained to them.

it is the single most effective treatment for depression out there, in terms of speed of response and efficacy.

the side effects are generally those of a general anaesthetic, ie grogginess afterwards.

some people get mild memory impairment afterwards, for the day of teh procedure.

there have been studies showing that soem memory impairment can be long lasting - however, there have been other studies discrediting this. it is most likely to occur in teh elderly, and you can reduce teh risk by giving them unilateral ect only.

it does not cause epilepsy or brain damage, no matter what teh scientologists claim!

generally, people will need a maintenance anti-depressant after ect, for at least a year.

anyone who has depression of such a severity to require ect should not be left without anti-depressant after it.

some people choose to have maintenance ect rather than meds, but this is uncommon.

ect figures vary around teh country, but it is not uncommon. in my last place of work,a ward with 45 beds, we would have had at least one person most weeks for ect.

it is used in a few instances - severe depression that hasnt responded to other meds "last resort", or it may not be held as last resort - may be used in emergency situations such as acute suicidality, threat to life from not eating/drinking, new mother with severe depression who may be a threat to baby. there are other more rare indications for it also.


i reiterate that it is safe and effective.

there are an awful lot of misconceptions and sensationalist claims out there about it, unfortunately.

gordon_gekko

sam34 wrote: »

thats not a true reflection, to be fair.

you cannot be detained indefinitely in psychiatric care, under any circumstances. teh initial period of any detention is three weeks, then this can be renewed for up to three months, then for a further period etc.

the longest any renewal period can be is 12 months.

each renewed detention is subject to an independent tribunal hearing, and can be overturned by that tribunal.

however, the laws are not "extremely liberal". the mental health act is there to protect the patient and soicety at large from those who may be dangerous due to an illness.

since teh new act came in, there have been over 2000 people detained every year in this country. thats not rare.

it is true to say that noone is locked up forever more these days - thats a good thing. however, those who need to be detained are being detained, with appropriate use of teh mental health legislation.

i appreciate your reply but not everyone believes its a good thing that no one is ever locked up indefinatley

nacho libre

since this thread was started i've heard about three people who have committed suicide within a 10 mile radius of me.
hopefully some of the excellent posts on this thread have had a positive effect on viewers who are at a low ebb and who maybe considering ending their life.

rebel girl 15

In reply to the original question, I do think that suicide needs to be discussed more openly. Its not spoken about enough. There is a fear that by talking about it, it will give more people the idea, and there is some data that backs up that claim, I don't know how valid it is or not. But in my opinion, it needs to be more open - its nearly shameful to be talking about it in some parts - a huge stigma is still attached to it.

More people die by suicide than on the roads, and has been for the last number of years. There is no drastic action like there has been for road safety. I did a project in TY a number of years ago, and TBH I was shocked at the numbers who died by suicide.

Suicide is the worst way for a family member to die - the people left behind have so many questions, so many things that they say "was this a sign", and can drive themselves demented with it. Why is the biggest question they are left with. Why didn;t they get help? Why didn't I see a sign? For those of you not touched by suicide directly, then be thankful because it is one of the hardest things to be affected by.

When people are suicidal, it is a black tunnel - you cannot see anyway out but suicide. To those who feel that pain, it is completely rational, but to those left behind, it is far from that. Depression comes in the same form, a tunnel, with no light. From what I remember of my research, a huge percentage of people who try to die by suicide in a method that does not kill them immediatly will want to live. Then there are other people who won't be happy until they are dead, that no matter how they are helped, they will die by suicide. It isn't cowardly or brave, its their only way out. They should not be praised nor criticised, but you have to feel extremely sorry for their family and friends.

one of my mothers work colleagues committed suicide, a well known man, plenty of connections to the community, lovely family and wife - had everything to live for. But was in such a dark dark place. I remember the business closed for the day, and I swear that the town was quiet because of it, there was just a different feel that day walking down the street. Nothing was said of it, how he died, nothing was done. Suicides cannot be left alone and buried, they need to be spoken about to try and prevent them.

Mental health seems to be on a lower level than physical health from what I've experienced. What needs to be done is a communication campaign about positive mental health, and promotion of places where you can get help. The loneliness and helplessness felt by people is heartbreaking at times - people don't know where to turn. One of my friends sent me a text basically saying that he was thinking of cutting his wrists, and TBH it scared the sh*te out of me. I rang him, spoke for ages and in the end he had counselling and sorted his problems. I've felt quite low at times, and I mean low. That darkness envelopes you, and you struggle to get out - you keep slipping deeper and deeper into it, and the sad fact is that unless you say something people won't notice, because for all intents and purposes, you will be exactly the same on the outside as you have been.

Suicides need to be reported as what they are, not some other thing - it needs to be highlighted, and the grief that families and friends feel for that person who has died needs to be shown. In a recent study by the 3ts, it showed that over 80% of young people disclosed their ideas to someone.

People need to be made aware that their friends are there to talk about things, no matter what it is. If you think someone is in trouble, don't even think about not helping them. Even if it is thrown in your face a couple of times, if you really care for the person, you will be there for them and make sure they know that. No family should go through the grief that families affected by suicide go through. Though this may sound kinda harsh, you can come to terms somewhat with a normal death, or a car accident death, whereas suicide, you will always have questions that will remain unanswered. The lives of families affected can never ever go back to normal. Anyone who does feel affected by this and needs to talk, or does feel on a low ebb, there are organisations here that can help http://www.3ts.ie/crisis.htm. I've seen and felt first hand what suicide can do to families and communities.

An awful lot more needs to be done, especially in schools during PC class. Awareness needs to be heightened. More funding needs to be given to do campaigns to create this awareness.

As regards euthanisia and suicide bombers, that should be discussed seperately.

Piste

Do the 3 Ts stand for Turning The Tide? I can never figure out what they stand for

Call Me Jimmy

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

It's a permenant solution to a termporary problem.

I don't agree with this. It assumes that the problem is temporary.

kajo

reading irishtaxi.org makes me feel unwell the hypocrisy of the site.