Suicide Contagion and the Reporting of Suicide (1994) (opens in new tab)

(cdc.gov)

33 pointsdbloom11y ago21 comments

21 comments

13 comments · 2 top-level

goshx11y ago· 10 in thread

Would you guys stop posting about suicide? I've already been measuring the speed I'd hit the ground if I were to jump from my balcony. I'm serious. Maybe this is why mainstream media doesn't report on suicides.

rpearl11y ago

I don't know if this comment was meant to be snarky, or illustrative, or in any way not a direct statement of fact, but I will never take such a comment lightly.

Are you okay? Please call a friend and talk, or 1-800-273-8255 (national suicide hotline, for US people).

If you want to talk to someone but don't have anyone to turn to, my email is this same username at endofunctor.org

Life can be hard sometimes and I know it doesn't feel like things will change, but it will pass. You will feel better.

1 more reply

jasonkostempski11y ago

They usually hit the front page for a few days after an event. I assume it Robin Williams related. In the mean time http://i.imgur.com/vvAzSFi.gif

goshx11y ago

thank you for doing this... I know where you got that from, and I laughed again. Truly appreciate it :)

goshx11y ago

I appreciate the downvotes. You clearly don't understand how such topics affect other people lives.

ixwt11y ago

Most people don't. This seems to be quite prevalent in most societies. News media doing anything to get a story to grab viewers. Another example is school shootings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PezlFNTGWv4

PhasmaFelis11y ago

It's hard to know what the right thing is to do with reports like this. If, as seems to be the case, articles about suicide encourage suicide, is it better to keep quiet about the fact so as not to directly contribute to the problem? Or is it better to report it in hopes of educating the media and reducing future articles, at the cost of more articles right now?

Either way, I hope you're able to find comfort and support somewhere. I've been there, and I know it sucks. Best wishes, truly.

Mz11y ago

Hey, I don't know how to help you, generally or with this issue of postings on HN being triggering specifically. Nor do I know the right thing to say today. Sometimes I do, but I don't today. I just wanted to touch base and offer a smidgeon of human warmth.

tsarzen11y ago

http://www.beyondblue.org.au/

There are people and organisations out there who can help you find a better way of overcoming depression.

ChristianBundy11y ago

> suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem

As someone who has struggled with suicide, please stop saying this.

http://suicidepreventioncommunity.wordpress.com/2010/03/05/p...

2 more replies

rickr11y ago

Hey there! Why don't you (or anyone else reading this) shoot me an e-mail. Rick@rudelinux.org.

goshx11y ago· 1 in thread

Thank you all for the kind comments. Although this is a real struggle to me, I didn't mean to bring all the attention to my issues. Thank you sincerely.

I am certainly not the only one here struggling with these kind of problems. I come to HN to distract my mind and learn new things, but it is tough when you try to get away from something happening in your life and you have to face it here. Some people don't realize how depressing some topics/discussions are and they don't realize how this can affect others already struggling with depression or other related issues. I'm sorry for asking what I asked, but I fail to understand why topics like suicide are coming up here more often.

thaumaturgy11y ago

Distractions are good, but HN also still has some remnants of a "community", and depression has been a recurring topic here for years. There are some factors that can make small business and startup founders susceptible to severe depression, and it wasn't that long ago that we lost one of our members to suicide -- and at this point, unfortunately, I'm sure there have been others, statistically speaking.

A few people, like me, have decided to start talking more openly about depression rather than trying to maintain the appearance that nothing was wrong. I was motivated by Stephen Fry and by a few other events around the same time, including the suicide of one of my clients.

I don't think anybody understands depression well enough yet to give advice that will work for everyone. (I sure as hell am long past wanting to receive any more advice; I hate being told to talk to a professional.)

But, if you'd like to just chat about stuff for a while, my email address is in my profile. Open invitation. You wouldn't be the first. It might be better than jumping out a window.

On the balance though, I think it would be good to de-stigmatize depression a bit. People who struggle with depression shouldn't also feel alone.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

21 comments

13 comments · 2 top-level

goshx11y ago· 10 in thread

rpearl11y ago

I don't know if this comment was meant to be snarky, or illustrative, or in any way not a direct statement of fact, but I will never take such a comment lightly.

Are you okay? Please call a friend and talk, or 1-800-273-8255 (national suicide hotline, for US people).

If you want to talk to someone but don't have anyone to turn to, my email is this same username at endofunctor.org

Life can be hard sometimes and I know it doesn't feel like things will change, but it will pass. You will feel better.

1 more reply

jasonkostempski11y ago

They usually hit the front page for a few days after an event. I assume it Robin Williams related. In the mean time http://i.imgur.com/vvAzSFi.gif

goshx11y ago

thank you for doing this... I know where you got that from, and I laughed again. Truly appreciate it :)

goshx11y ago

I appreciate the downvotes. You clearly don't understand how such topics affect other people lives.

ixwt11y ago

PhasmaFelis11y ago

Either way, I hope you're able to find comfort and support somewhere. I've been there, and I know it sucks. Best wishes, truly.

Mz11y ago

tsarzen11y ago

http://www.beyondblue.org.au/

There are people and organisations out there who can help you find a better way of overcoming depression.

ChristianBundy11y ago

> suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem

As someone who has struggled with suicide, please stop saying this.

http://suicidepreventioncommunity.wordpress.com/2010/03/05/p...

2 more replies

rickr11y ago

Hey there! Why don't you (or anyone else reading this) shoot me an e-mail. Rick@rudelinux.org.

goshx11y ago· 1 in thread

Thank you all for the kind comments. Although this is a real struggle to me, I didn't mean to bring all the attention to my issues. Thank you sincerely.

thaumaturgy11y ago

But, if you'd like to just chat about stuff for a while, my email address is in my profile. Open invitation. You wouldn't be the first. It might be better than jumping out a window.

On the balance though, I think it would be good to de-stigmatize depression a bit. People who struggle with depression shouldn't also feel alone.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse