What do you think about an intervention forum for suicide on Hubpages ?

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   ahorsebackposted 11 years ago

   What do you think about an intervention forum  for suicide on Hubpages ?
   
   Have YOU ever seriously considered suicide ?, Do you think hubs would be a good place to have a forum thread for intervention? Could the writings of others help prevent  a waste of a life ?

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2. 85

   SidKempposted 11 years ago

   There are four parts to my answer:
   
   I'm not going to answer the personal question directly. But I will say that I have a long term involvement (30 years) of concerns regarding suicide and successful suicide interventions.
   
   Do I think that HubPages would be a good place for actual intervention that would be intended to help save a life? No. Direct suicide prevention requires expertise that could not be guaranteed through a HubPages forum and a level of personal contact and cultural familiarity not possible on a worldwide forum. HubPages is a community of writers and readers, not a community that could effective perform reliable intervention.
   
   Would a forum thread in support of learning about suicide intervention be valuable? I'm not sure. I don't participate in the forums here. On the positive side, discussion and sharing understanding of suicide intervention is certainly valuable. But many people think they have good, reliable knowledge when the knowledge is partial, or only relevant to some cases or some communities. When life is on the line, how do we know that the guidance we are receiving is the best if it comes on an open forum with no system of accountability and few ways to prevent misunderstanding and groupthink?
   
   To end on a much more positive note: Just by existing, HubPages already helps prevent suicide. It provides hope, inspiration, connection, and an opportunity for free expression. Each of these can help a person lift himself or herself out of despair and regain a reason to live and the feeling of joy in life.

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3. 94

   peeplesposted 11 years ago

   I think it would feed the attention seeking trolls. Real intervention needs to come from people who know what they are doing.

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      SidKempposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Good point.

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4. 61

   duffsmomposted 11 years ago

   No, I don't think Hubpages would be an effective intervention method for suicide prevention.  A person contemplating suicide is not likely to be looking around Hubpages for it. They need urgent help and professional help.
   
   A person seriously considering ending their life is not likely to receive the help they need from reading a hub. It is a nice idea but I don't think it would be of much help.

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   coffeegginmyriceposted 11 years ago

   Do I think that HubPages would be a good place for suicide intervention? NO. Thinking of suicide is a serious matter. The suicidal person could leave HubPages a hub or open a forum that brings about his/her deep feelings, the pouring out of sadness with the intent to commit suicide soon or after a hub could be written, or after a few forum threads. Just like how they leave statuses and messages on Facebook hinting that “something” IS going to happen (the killing rampage, suicidal notes & videos, killing of one self).  The "individual in crisis" will have no time to read and scan through hubs that could prevent thoughts of suicide to turn into reality. Followers/readers to this hubber feel jumping in to reach out to console or comfort the bothered hubber.  I have encountered hubbers who offer to email or call them so they may be of help. There is nothing bad about it; one’s sincere words could enlighten and inspire the other, and the final decision depends upon the individual who is in suicide mode through the willingness to listen and act as advised to save his/her life.
   
   If there is a hubber out there, who is a professional to matters like this (Safety and Health Professional, Spiritual Leaders, Senior Administrators, Faculty/Teachers or Counselors), they know what they are doing and they know how to solve these issues, procedures and such.   After the first step to get the suicidal person to reach back to you (away from HubPages through personal email or phone number) will hopefully head to a brighter direction. 
   
   An intervention forum thread on Hubpages for this matter might not be appropriate, as this matter needs special attention and help. It could worsen the issue if someone trolling would set in. I for one could be very thankful that Hubpages at its best is a community with friendly and caring people and a place to share each other’s thoughts and work.  As far our feelings of concern would fall instantly to the person in crisis, the most valuable thing we hubbers could do when responding to a fallen individual trying to send a “message” is to find ways where to channel assistance for the individual with suicidal thoughts or behaviour.

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      SidKempposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      You make a lot of good points.

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   ahorsebackposted 11 years ago

   Silly  question .....All such excellent points  it just wouldn't work would it ! Perhaps if we only encourage people in need to write about it ,....... we all win !

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      SidKempposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      People in need can, indeed, benefit from writing about it. But it is best kept in a private journal, or shared only with people one can trust. In my experience, what people need at the moment of decision for suicide is loving human contact.

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