Because, even if it is about reddit, we also deal with sad stuff and try to support each others.
What can you do when someone on social media says they are feeling suicidal?
Most social networks allow users to report posts anonymously so the site can send them links and numbers to organisations offering support.
But Reddit is also trying a different approach.
It hosts a thread called Suicide Watch. This subreddit is set up specifically for people who are feeling suicidal to talk through their feelings.
Someone submits a post to the sub with a title explaining how they feel and why, then other redditors reply to them.
I once moderated a self help community for mental health on reddit. It was hard reading all the sad stories every day. I tried to post more positive stuff from time to time, to push the community in a more constructive direction. But at some point I had to stop reading the constant flow of negative posts. I think it accelerated my own symptoms. I don’t think online forums are suitable for mental health self help groups, because they create a destructive echo chamber, at least in my experience.
But it won’t stop them sharing their worries.
They will never reach that hotline because they fell ashamed or because their life would in greater danger.
As for myself, i participed in a french forum because i was also felling hopeless. so i kinda understand what they can endure but i must keep in mind that it is different and never the same. I went to psy, got medication, spent time on forum. It helped me to advance in my life. Social network helped me a lot.
It also helped them getting support, being listened, sharing some heavy stuff…i even saved a girl from suicide. It was difficult, i didn’t know what happened to her for several months, i was very sad. but one day she come back discretly, shyly told me hello and thanked me and i was very happy. :)
Most of case, we won’t know what happen after. But i want them to have a place to talk freely. It may lift a little their heart.
Nice to know it can help some people. Maybe it was just too much for me to moderate the community, because I basically had to read everything.
But that also good to know when you have to stop. Even myself i can’t bear this and need a break i reduced my activity in new for example
Yes, I agree I don’t think link aggregators are a good place to get encouragement because there is a lot of negativity behind the anonymity with people saying doing anything is impossible.
Given our usage, i don’t see she threadiderse as link aggregator only.
It can be a good place for support but you need a good moderation team and a good community.
