Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
This forum is used with the NationStates web-game designed and run by Max Barry. While not officially affiliated, this serves as the regional forum for the regions: Middle East, African Continent, American Continent, Asian Continent, and European Continent.

You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and can "read only".

In order to get the most out of these forums, please become a member and read this guide - http://z3.invisionfree.com/nationstates/index.php?showtopic=3060


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Suicidal People
Topic Started: Aug 8 2010, 08:43 PM (514 Views)
Quaon
Member Avatar
A Prince Amoung Men-Shoot First and Ask Questions Later
So a girl I know told me someone she knows and whom I am facebook friends with (I know the girl in real life, she knows the other guy in real life [he lives in California], and we all are members of a CTY related forum) told her that he is going to kill himself. We talk about this for a few minutes, I go on his facebook page and look up his school (he goes to a rich private school) and find their number. I volunteer to call them tomorrow with the assumption that there will be a secretary present and any good private school will immediately call his parents because of being human beings (and also being liable for not acting on knowledge). I'm pretty much deadset on doing this, but have noted that this could really fuck up a complete stranger's life if he isn't really serious, as he could get expelled from his school. Is there a better way to go about this, and if so, how?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Hastine
Member Avatar
Universi enim hic sumus.
 *  *  *  *  *  *
Why the hell would he get kicked out of a private school for attempted-but-thwarted suicide? Whether he's serious or not (if he's saying he is, just for kicks, then he is a douche and deserves to be kicked out anyways), he obviously has mental health issues that need to be addressed. Call them and save his life. I doubt they're cruel enough to kick him while he's down, especially since this isn't the day and age where suicide is punishable by prison time. :lol:
Edited by Hastine, Aug 8 2010, 08:50 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Quaon
Member Avatar
A Prince Amoung Men-Shoot First and Ask Questions Later
Hesperia
Aug 8 2010, 08:48 PM
Why the hell would he get kicked out of a private school for attempted-but-thwarted suicide? Whether he's serious or not (if he's saying he is, just for kicks, then he is a douche and deserves to be kicked out anyways), he obviously has mental health issues that need to be addressed. Call them and save his life. I doubt they're cruel enough to kick him while he's down, especially since this isn't the day and age where suicide is punishable by prison time. :lol:
That's a good point. I'm calling them no matter what, anyway.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Aelius
Member Avatar
Norman Warlord
What sorts of issues is he having anyway?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
NRE
Member Avatar
Map Tsar and Southern Gentleman

I highly doubt they'd kick him out, especially since I doubt school is even in session. The most they'd do is notify his parents that the school received information that their son is allegedly thinking of suicide, at least I'd hope they'd do that. If the school took any action beyond notifying the parents, it would probably be that they'd make him see the school therapist (or make it mandatory for him to see one privately so that he can remain at the school).

I say if you and this girl think its a seriously enough matter then there is nothing gravely wrong with going through with calling. Suicide is certainly nothing to joke about and I can tell you from experience (not myself, but someone very close to me) that it is a very ugly, ugly business. Saving them now (assuming he is serious) will help him out in the long run, especially if he truly does attempt it and fails. The regret and guilt associated with the attempt is a very powerful emotion and can really ripple through a person's life.

Its just an overall terrible, terrible thing.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Quaon
Member Avatar
A Prince Amoung Men-Shoot First and Ask Questions Later
Lansdallius
Aug 8 2010, 09:05 PM
What sorts of issues is he having anyway?
Don't really know.

Also, it's more than feeling suicidal - apparently he plans to kill himself tuesday. So, yeah.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Ulgania
Member Avatar
A better Zarathustra has never rode a horse
I always feel terrible when I see people put on a suicide watch - it creates a horrible amount of stigma around that person, and puts an unfair amount of pressure on that person, pressure that may make them want to harm themselves in a much more destructively rash way then planned.

I can only hope that your friend lives, and doesn't face a depersonalized life after this is all over with.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Quaon
Member Avatar
A Prince Amoung Men-Shoot First and Ask Questions Later
Just for the record, he's not my friend; I only very vaguely know the kid. That's partially why I offered to make the call in the place of the girl, because there was no trust to be eroded between him and myself.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Tristan da Cunha
Member Avatar
Science and Industry
I'm not familiar with the concept or history of expulsions of students just for having suicidal thoughts but it seems faintly illegal or at least not part of the protocol of what schools would do even rich snobbish ones. I would bet he is not expelled under these circumstances.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Quaon
Member Avatar
A Prince Amoung Men-Shoot First and Ask Questions Later
The more I think about it the more illogical that statement about expulsion was. I think it got on my mind because he apparently was expelled from another school for planning out an attack or something.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
New Harumf
Member Avatar
Bloodthirsty Unicorn
You MUST call, now you have no choice. Here we are much better off to error on the side of caution, since to do nothing could mean someone dies. If there is no one at the school, call the police in his town, or his parents directly. Do not delay.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Quaon
Member Avatar
A Prince Amoung Men-Shoot First and Ask Questions Later
Just made the call.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Toussaint
Member Avatar
Major
What'd they say?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Quaon
Member Avatar
A Prince Amoung Men-Shoot First and Ask Questions Later
Well, the school called his parents, who called me. They impressed me with their level of calm. I told them everything I knew and gave them the girl's number, who apparently spoke with the mother.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Deleted User
Deleted User

Had this situation a few months ago.

A friend of a friend added me on Facebook a while back. She insisted, and still does, on messaging me literally every time I go on. She always talks to me, about random stuff and occasionally her problems, to which I respond in a completely laid back, indifferent attitude. My advice to her is the same indifferent, laid back, and 'don't give a shit about anything' attidtue. One day she starts talking about her friends not getting along and hows she's so sad with her problems, a lot of mundane stuff. I snap, and start ranting about why her problems are simple and non-important, and why other people like me have real life-altering problems. I describe a few of those problems and she responds sparsely. Her last words on the chat were: "you know, its just that sometimes I don't really want to keep living."

And she signs off.

Thus I start freaking out. I do everything I can to contact her. Finally, later on that night, she gets back on and I try to talk. We talk for several hours, and regardless of the finals I had the next day, I stayed on. She explain to me her problem. But this time, she below the surface, much much deeper. Instead of those little mundane problems, I was faced with a girl who had several serious problem that I will not mention on this forum. She did tell me however, and I will disclose this fact, that she cuts herself regularly, because it helps her depression. I try to talk her out of the entire situation. After a couple hours of vigorous persuasion on my part, she finally agree and promises she wont do anything drastic. After saying goodnight, she signs off.

After that day, I talked to her quite regularly, and to which her problems deepen even more. I do my best to give her advice, this time without the indifferent attitude. Weeks passes and she gets better and less depressed. I slowly go back to my indifferent and laid back attitude.

Coming back from my vacation, I log on for the first time in a couple weeks and discover she has a new boyfriend and seems quite happy.

In all, I think I learned a couple of life lessons, in addition to realizing that I should follow my own advice. Not fun at all.
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Quaon
Member Avatar
A Prince Amoung Men-Shoot First and Ask Questions Later
Well, the kid is on facebook chat right now, and while that creeps me out kind of, I suppose that means he didn't off himself.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Deleted User
Deleted User

Quaon
Aug 10 2010, 12:26 PM
Well, the kid is on facebook chat right now, and while that creeps me out kind of, I suppose that means he didn't off himself.
And thats all that matters.
Quote Post Goto Top
 
East Anarx
Member Avatar
Anarchitect

People who want to kill themselves should be free to do so.

I'm not saying you shouldn't be free to call up their parents and let 'em know, to be clear.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Hastine
Member Avatar
Universi enim hic sumus.
 *  *  *  *  *  *
People should only be allowed to commit suicide if their life is a complete, pathetic waste with no chance of redemption from their worthlessness. But even if there is a tiny glint of worth, we have to do everything we can to prevent our fellow man from taking his or her own life, even if they've pissed off a Roman Emperor and/or the populace of ancient Athens. Why? Because a person in a state of depression is irrational. They choose suicide because they see it as the only way their life can go. And having suffered through a year of that exact shit in 2007, and still putting up with it from time to time, I should know.
Edited by Hastine, Aug 10 2010, 05:19 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Deleted User
Deleted User

Hesperia
Aug 10 2010, 05:18 PM
People should only be allowed to commit suicide if their life is a complete, pathetic waste with no chance of redemption from their worthlessness. But even if there is a tiny glint of worth, we have to do everything we can to prevent our fellow man from taking his or her own life, even if they've pissed off a Roman Emperor and/or the populace of ancient Athens. Why? Because a person in a state of depression is irrational. They choose suicide because they see it as the only way their life can go. And having suffered through a year of that exact shit in 2007, and still putting up with it from time to time, I should know.
Which Roman Emperor did you piss off, Hesperia?
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Hastine
Member Avatar
Universi enim hic sumus.
 *  *  *  *  *  *
Atticus
Aug 10 2010, 07:04 PM
Hesperia
Aug 10 2010, 05:18 PM
People should only be allowed to commit suicide if their life is a complete, pathetic waste with no chance of redemption from their worthlessness. But even if there is a tiny glint of worth, we have to do everything we can to prevent our fellow man from taking his or her own life, even if they've pissed off a Roman Emperor and/or the populace of ancient Athens. Why? Because a person in a state of depression is irrational. They choose suicide because they see it as the only way their life can go. And having suffered through a year of that exact shit in 2007, and still putting up with it from time to time, I should know.
Which Roman Emperor did you piss off, Hesperia?
Diocletian back in 303-305 AD, when the largely-Christian province of Hesperia rebelled and gained its independance from the persecuting Roman Empire. He was so cheesed that he retired and grew cabbages for the rest of his life. :lol:
Edited by Hastine, Aug 11 2010, 04:07 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Sedulius
Member Avatar
Field Marshal
Hesperia
Aug 10 2010, 05:18 PM
People should only be allowed to commit suicide if their life is a complete, pathetic waste with no chance of redemption from their worthlessness. But even if there is a tiny glint of worth, we have to do everything we can to prevent our fellow man from taking his or her own life, even if they've pissed off a Roman Emperor and/or the populace of ancient Athens. Why? Because a person in a state of depression is irrational. They choose suicide because they see it as the only way their life can go. And having suffered through a year of that exact shit in 2007, and still putting up with it from time to time, I should know.
There is always a chance for redemption. Anything is possible.

Or maybe I should say "Nothing is true. Everything is permitted."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Aelius
Member Avatar
Norman Warlord
Sedulius
Aug 11 2010, 05:57 AM
Hesperia
Aug 10 2010, 05:18 PM
People should only be allowed to commit suicide if their life is a complete, pathetic waste with no chance of redemption from their worthlessness. But even if there is a tiny glint of worth, we have to do everything we can to prevent our fellow man from taking his or her own life, even if they've pissed off a Roman Emperor and/or the populace of ancient Athens. Why? Because a person in a state of depression is irrational. They choose suicide because they see it as the only way their life can go. And having suffered through a year of that exact shit in 2007, and still putting up with it from time to time, I should know.
There is always a chance for redemption. Anything is possible.

Or maybe I should say "Nothing is true. Everything is permitted."
Wish him safety and peace. xD
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
East Anarx
Member Avatar
Anarchitect

Sedulius
Aug 11 2010, 05:57 AM
Or maybe I should say "Nothing is true. Everything is permitted."
Been hitting the hash pipe a little harder than usual, lately, Sed?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Hastine
Member Avatar
Universi enim hic sumus.
 *  *  *  *  *  *
Sedulius
Aug 11 2010, 05:57 AM
Hesperia
Aug 10 2010, 05:18 PM
People should only be allowed to commit suicide if their life is a complete, pathetic waste with no chance of redemption from their worthlessness. But even if there is a tiny glint of worth, we have to do everything we can to prevent our fellow man from taking his or her own life, even if they've pissed off a Roman Emperor and/or the populace of ancient Athens. Why? Because a person in a state of depression is irrational. They choose suicide because they see it as the only way their life can go. And having suffered through a year of that exact shit in 2007, and still putting up with it from time to time, I should know.
There is always a chance for redemption. Anything is possible.
Ever heard of Christian Weston Chandler, aka Chris-chan? I'm not going to post the Encyclopedia Drammatica article due to some... unsuitable content, but I believe I've found the person who has actually managed to blaspheme the Holy Spirit enough to be void from redemption.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
Free Forums. Reliable service with over 8 years of experience.
Learn More · Register Now
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Off-Topic · Next Topic »
Add Reply