Someone threatening suicide, what to do?

fussyonion

Someone has placed a disturbing message on a site where they're threatening to kill themself.

I know some people might say "It could be an attention seeking thing" "It's the Internet" but what if it's genuine?
What should I do?

They have no visible email address, just a button saying Contact.

alchemist33

I'm assuming you don't particularly know this person. Kick it up to a mod.

fussyonion

I don't know the person and it's not Boards.

I know the site but I'm not sure it's appropriate to name it here.
I'm probably being naive here to even believe someone is being serious as there's no way of knowing with people online, but it's on my mind now and I'd hate to think of someone out there about to end their life and there could be something I could do.

PizzamanIRL

If it's online, give them a positive reply and tell a mod I suppose. Not much else you can do if you don't know them personally.

Sunnyisland

]
Samaritans – 18 50 60 90 90
1life – Freephone (24hrs) 1800 247 100 or text the word HELP to 51444

Can they or you ring the Samaritans .

fussyonion

I actually rang the Samaritans, with the message on my screen in front of me to read out.
I was explaining the story to the lady on the phone and she hung up!

lollsangel

Pm and ask them if they want to talk. Its amazing how much help a listeningvear can help sometimes, or being able to speak freely as they dont know you

Sunnyisland

Ring them again.

fussyonion

fussyonion wrote: »

I actually rang the Samaritans, with the message on my screen in front of me to read out.
I was explaining the story to the lady on the phone and she hung up!

:eek: what . well that's not right at all

Sir Osis of Liver.

Do this.
Worked for Mel anyway.

araic88

fussyonion wrote: »

I actually rang the Samaritans, with the message on my screen in front of me to read out.
I was explaining the story to the lady on the phone and she hung up!

I can't imagine her doing that on purpose - got cut off/phone lines down with that crazy wind outside?

glass_onion

Pass on the support nums as realies provided.Or this site.has international links for support- http://www.befrienders.org/

fussyonion

Thanks for all your advice, it's very nice of you.
I sent a message to the person with the numbers you provided, so hopefully that's helped. I also gave them my email address and phone number in case they need to talk.

whatever you do don't do this

seriously I hope you can help this person

NuckingFacker

It's usually the quiet ones that don't threaten, or talk, or even act depressed that actually go through with it. A friend took his own life last year, it gutted me - I spoke with him briefly five or six hours before he did it and he was totally normal and lucid - said see ya and that was that. The deep thinking ones that bottle it all up and don't share or discuss, just soldier on until they can't do it anymore. The fact this person is talking and showing their feelings is a good thing. They might just need to vent a bit.

Karl Stein

Wise words there Mr Facker.

fussyonion

I, too, have experienced someone wanting to commit suicide.
I don't want to go into the details for fear of identification but suffice to say, everyone is different.
This person tried to slash their wrists but they didn't do it deep enough for it to be serious; it was a blatant cry for help.

The thing about the Internet is that there *are* sickos out there who would stoop so low as to pretend to be suicidal but because there are also genuine people out there, desperate for help, it's hard to dismiss everyone when there could be that one person who is asking for help.

Anyway, I'll see what happens and if I'm permitted, I'll keep you updated.
Thanks again.

apollo8

The site might have procedure for this such as IP trace and police call to his home to see if he needs help
Alert a mod

fussyonion

apollo8 wrote: »

The site might have procedure for this such as IP trace and police call to his home to see if he needs help
Alert a mod

I've used the "Report" function to contact someone at the site and I gave a reason as to why I was reporting the message.
Hopefully they can do something.

apollo8

fussyonion wrote: »

I've used the "Report" function to contact someone at the site and I gave a reason as to why I was reporting the message.
Hopefully they can do something.

Well done its all you can do:)

taytobreath

fussyonion wrote: »

I've used the "Report" function to contact someone at the site and I gave a reason as to why I was reporting the message.
Hopefully they can do something.

good lad, you've done the right thing and your conscience is clear.
i hope the person will be ok and get the help that they need

fussyonion

taytobreath wrote: »

good lad, you've done the right thing and your conscience is clear.
i hope the person will be ok and get the help that they need

Thanks...I'm not a lad though! Heh, it's ok

taytobreath

fussyonion wrote: »

Thanks...I'm not a lad though! Heh, it's ok

i call girls and boys lads. i come from the sticks

The Diabolical Monocle

Sir Osis of Liver. wrote: »

Do this.
Worked for Mel anyway.

Oh Riggs, you're so crazy and out there, but in a trendy fatherly kind of way.