Do you agree that this forum is helping many to RECOVER, by allowing open communication on this subject?

[Praying 4 a Miracle]

It's no secret that (worldwide), many in society seem very uncomfortable with the open discussion of this subject. It seems to me that censoring it, and preventing people from openly communicating will only make the problem much worse.

When prohibition of alcohol was enforced years ago, did it stop people from drinking? It just drove the problem underground. Bootlegging began, causing dangerous manufacturing processes, which resulted in unpredictable and tragic health consequences. If prohibition was a good solution, we would still be using it today.

Banning or censoring free speech (online or anywhere else) will only drive the conversations underground, where the efforts for encouraging recovery will most likely NOT be taking place.

It's understandable that so many in society feel uncomfortable discussing the subject of death and suffering, but the result of allowing these conversations IMO, is that people feel supported and understood.

By allowing citizens around the world to build a community of people who understand what each other is going through, it dramatically reduces the amount of anxiety for those who are suffering intensely. This will result in a DECREASE in suicide rates around the world, NOT an increase.

Stigmatizing the entire subject is obviously not working, as suicide is currently the number one cause of death WORLDWIDE for people under 35. Also number one for MEN under 50 (even eclipsing auto accidents!). By limiting access to safe, medical assistance in dying programs, this forces many who are suffering intolerably to resort to dangerous and painful unassisted methods, where the chances of further disability and suffering are extremely high.

If people know they have access to a safe and peaceful way of relieving their intense pain, if absolutely necessary, then this dramatically reduces anxiety levels and improves overall mental health. When you combine assisted and unassisted methods, this will result in FEWER people committing suicide overall.

Those citizens suffering strictly from poverty, should be supported by programs such as disability benefits, universal basic income, and assistance in finding employment. This would prevent those suffering from poverty and disabilities from being motivated to choose assisted dying for financial reasons. IMO, if you take all financial reasons off the table, NO ONE is going to want to prematurely end their life, unless they are truly suffering intolerably, with no other possible solutions available to solve the problem(s). Then EVERY adult can make this extremely important decision for themselves.

Obviously, the ultimate objective should ALWAYS be recovery, and that is why this open discussion forum is so important. What people in the mainstream media (and healthy/happy individuals) should be learning from this forum, is that there are a LOT of people who feel they have no way of escaping their pain in this life, without resorting to the various painful and dangerous methods that are often discussed.

By also offering many recovery and mental health support resources, along with encouraging and moderating a respectful environment for open communication and community, it's undeniable that this forum is saving many.

 

[whywere]

100% YES.

The one of the worst things that humans can do to themselves and each other is to sweep (ignore) issues under the rug.

This site lets folks hang loose and let their feelings and thoughts out and in turn that gets folks talking and involved and that helps.

That is like folks who want this site shut down, they unfortunately have a knee jerk reaction when the word suicide comes up, and they never look long term.

Like myself as an example, I have a community that I care deeply about and in turn I get so much love and energy from all the folks here that it makes each and every chronic pain filled day tolerable.

Wishing everyone here lots of well wishes, hugs, love and a fantastic weekend.

Walter

 

[sancta-simplicitas]

I second.

I do think that many people here - I know that's true for me personally - have experienced being able to freely vent about their thoughts around suicide and death for the first time in their lives. On top of that, the response often provided here is uniquely supportive; people often truly care, empathizes and/or relates. That is a powerful experience, that very well could make someone feel better. Either temporary or on longer term. Trying to discuss these things in other rooms - be it with friends/family, professionals, helplines or other communities always have backlash. Either you're invalidated and get told seven billion arguments against your own feelings, or you risk hurting someone, or you risk being hurt by having the police called to drag you to involuntary confinement, or people are just callous and tell you to get a hobby and throw a number to a helpline in your face.

How are people supposed to be able to recover from something that they're in practice not allowed to freely talk about? Afaik that's pretty much how you recover. Venting, connecting, ruminating, getting comfort and support. It's the most human thing there is and it's absurd that suicidal people so often are bereft of that possibility, because people seem to think that we're ticking bombs that could go off at any second.

SaSu saves lives. Either by giving people a safe space to be able to safetly end them or because a sense of community, comfort and being heard makes people want to stick around.

 

[bitofftoomuch]

Personally it has not helped me. There's a lot of hopeless negativity on this forum and every time I visit I feel intense self-loathing for willingly subjecting myself to it.

I wish somewhere was a middle ground, where pessimistic rambling is discouraged but you can still say how you feel without getting locked up for it.

What people really need is love and frankly money. this site isn't really providing either.

 

[notwhereIbelong]

It's the reason why I'm still here. It's the only place where people understand what I've been through and what I feel. Even in other mental health/disorder forums, suicide is still a touchy topic, and often you're not supposed to talk about it at all. Not even going to talk about real life, mentioning it gets an even worse reaction.

I'm glad I have this little corner.

 

[TransilvanianHunger]

This place is odd. I completely agree that discussions regarding mental health, and particularly suicide, should not be suppressed. I understand why people are generally scared shitless of the subject, but pretending like it's not a thing helps no one. The only thing it does, is further isolate those who are dealing with suicidal thoughts. The only effective way of preventing suicide is addressing the issues that make people suicidal.

At the same time, I feel like this forum gives back what you put into it. If you come here looking for someone who will listen, and who will encourage to keep going, you will find that. Conversely, if you come here seeking confirmation of your beliefs that everything is fucked and the only reasonable response is to kill yourself, you will also find that. The forum, in itself, is neither good nor bad. The people who recover after being here do so, I think, because they came here looking for a way to recover. There are also those who come here looking for voices who tell them that there is no point in doing anything, that the world is against them, and that they'd be better off dead.

 

[Praestat_Mori]

Yes.

In my case, finding SS when I was at rock bottom, desperate and alone with unsolvable problems probably saved me. Alone the fact that I didn't have to hear/read toxic positivity helped. People here understand suffering of all kind of problems. I wouldn't want to miss the community.

 

[Davey40210]

Fully agree.

I don't think in my case but it was such a relief to find this site and tell my story. I definitely think it will help some people tremendously.

 

[real human being]

This place helps me cope with life.

 

[justkatie]

I think it's helped a little.

My ctb ideals aren't from snap decisions but a life time of shit.

Being able to express how crap life has been and for people to understand that and say they're going through the same helps..a bit.

I still don't want to be here but not being alone in your suffering is okay.

 

[permanently tired]

In my experience, it did help. I felt less estranged and could also vent my frustrations abt rtd/life. It's like a coping mechanism, having an outlet allows me to feel more at ease. Personally, depressive thoughts make me want to rot and isolate myself. Working though it is a seldom experience and no one could directly intervene and change me, but I'm in an ok point rn. That mindfulness peace crap came to me when I accepted all the chaos and bitterness in me. No one can fix my life except me and I don't have to forgive or love anyone who ruined it. I can acknowledge I hate them, embrace that and move on with my life without acting impulsively. And if I can't fix it, as ppl retelling my death will say "took matters into his own hands."

 

[Hero Remeer]

What a great topic and well expressed
It's a shame that these topics are not discussed and that is normal, because when you talk about suicide you talk about the society in which you live, and the only solution is to change this evil society in which we live, but since it is cheaper to live well and healthy they don't do it
It's all a shame, I wish I had given you a better answer, but in this society I don't see any progress on the subject
Regards, be well

 

[lacrimosa]

This community helped me make the choice to attempt to CTB when I was at my lowest and now, it supports me because I am trying to recover. I couldn't be more thankful for the good-hearted souls on here who have contributed to my recovery and a more positive mindset.

I maybe don't post as much in the suicide forum now and that's a good thing. My post count really doesn't matter much. I just like having the stories to relate to of people trying to recover or who are struggling.

My one wish, to help them if they are considering to CTB when it is a rash decision.

 

[Life_and_Death]

. There's a lot of hopeless negativity on this forum and every time I visit I feel intense self-loathing for willingly subjecting myself to it.

I wish somewhere was a middle ground,

personally this is why i have basically everything except the recovery second on ignore

 

[lovelesslifeless]

Lol no. This site may be good for venting but when it comes to recovery it'll most likely just make things worse

 

[EmptyEater]

I wish there was a way to gather data on how many successful recovery cases vs successful ctb cases have transpired in the forum's life.

 

[RosebyAnyName]

For myself, yes.

I have a lot bottled up in my real life. I have thoughts that hurt me a lot but that are considered inappropriate to talk about IRL. I didn't have any other healthy ways to let those feelings out, and I feel I was never actually taught how to manage or share my emotions in a healthy way.

Being able to anonymously shout into a digital void with others who felt the same way was more helpful compared to expressing myself in real life, where I just get dismissed with "just stop being depressed," "just don't give up," "just get therapy (which was useless after a certain point)," etc.

 

[HereTomorrow]

One thing that makes humanity so unique is the ability to be unpredictable.

There's no direct answer to this question because I view SaSu to be a tool. Some people (such as I) came here for the direct purpose of recovery, and learned that knowing I have a mostly effective and painless way to go, I feel safe, comfortable, and less impulsive about being absolutely certain that I only want to die, not need. Other people, however, come with the direct intention to die with little pain and do not desire recovery. What sometimes happens is people feel better and worse from the discussions, more and less suicidial. I've even felt that way, emphasizing with people's pain to the point I feel a bit more upset afterwards and struggle to cope on some days.

At least where I am, suicide is stigmatized in the sense that the only acceptable discussion is prevention. Celebrities openly talk about giving up yet they do not. A space like this is needed for the discussions that celebrities and the local man cannot speak about, such as methods, intention, and causes.

To speak up about my pain, it makes me feel less alone. To discuss methods, make me confirm I can leave when I desire.

There is a reason we speak under our anonymous pseudonyms, and that is because we fear the real life consequences. Legally. It could be as bad as assisting suicide, but it's often that we're afraid of being hospitalized, losing our freedom if so (in the United States, you lose gun rights in varying degrees if you are hospitalized), being branded as crazy, and not many people want to be friends with someone if they knew from the start we're suicidial.

For those, as what you said, are suicidial from poverty, that is suicidial thoughts from an external factor. Suicide prevention is preventing the thought, not just the action. There is nothing to treat if you are never suicidial, and that is perfectly okay. We're a forum of freedom, not rooting for the death of all.

A future I hope, is a day where discussion of suicide can be made without hiding ourselves. I'm not sure if it'll happen in our lifetime.

But until then, we are here, less anxious, more sastified, in whatever we want to do.

 

[protector_iorek]

This place makes me feel less alone in a world where no one can understand me.

 

[whywere]

This place makes me feel less alone in a world where no one can understand me.

You are family to/for me, as I have no family nor friends.

Lots of hugs, well wishes and the knowledge that you are never ever alone.

Walter

 

[death_by_life]

This is my first post, and may only be one of a few, rambling as it may be. I came here looking for practical information on how to quickly and cleanly ctb, and I was so glad to have found it. It gave me a better overview on the process of planning and executing, and a number of things I hadn't considered, like a chosen location, for example the woods, could have an unintended impact on wildlife. I know I want to do as little harm to others as I can, so that's valuable information. All the information I've gotten here in the last few days has made me more comfortable with the possibility of ctb, which in turn has sometimes counterintuitively made it seem less urgent. I can't say I could properly carry it out on the first try just yet, but I know more about what to watch out for and what to consider, and it makes me a little less anxious about the prospect. Conversely, I also have the opportunity to really consider what it would feel like to go through the process, and feel all the associated emotions that go with it - the relief and the gruesomeness - in a very safe, reversible way. It's been so validating seeing others' experiences that closely resemble mine, and that they, too, struggle to want to keep going. Reading the posts of those who have decided to stay, as well as those who haven't, has given me perspective I couldn't get as just myself, as just one person. I can be on both sides of this fence and see everything, and ask practical questions (what do I do with my cats?), all freely without judgement or expectation from anyone else, whatever I choose to do. I'm just so much better informed, and I'm really grateful for that. I guess this isn't very recovery-oriented, except in the sense that I feel I have options, which maybe means recovery could be one of them. Tomorrow could be different, and I'll still have options. And I can talk about it either way.

Yeah, sorry… super rambling. Nice to be able to say it out loud, though.

 

[Praying 4 a Miracle]

This is my first post, and may only be one of a few, rambling as it may be. I came here looking for practical information on how to quickly and cleanly ctb, and I was so glad to have found it. It gave me a better overview on the process of planning and executing, and a number of things I hadn't considered, like a chosen location, for example the woods, could have an unintended impact on wildlife. I know I want to do as little harm to others as I can, so that's valuable information. All the information I've gotten here in the last few days has made me more comfortable with the possibility of ctb, which in turn has sometimes counterintuitively made it seem less urgent. I can't say I could properly carry it out on the first try just yet, but I know more about what to watch out for and what to consider, and it makes me a little less anxious about the prospect. Conversely, I also have the opportunity to really consider what it would feel like to go through the process, and feel all the associated emotions that go with it - the relief and the gruesomeness - in a very safe, reversible way. It's been so validating seeing others' experiences that closely resemble mine, and that they, too, struggle to want to keep going. Reading the posts of those who have decided to stay, as well as those who haven't, has given me perspective I couldn't get as just myself, as just one person. I can be on both sides of this fence and see everything, and ask practical questions (what do I do with my cats?), all freely without judgement or expectation from anyone else, whatever I choose to do. I'm just so much better informed, and I'm really grateful for that. I guess this isn't very recovery-oriented, except in the sense that I feel I have options, which maybe means recovery could be one of them. Tomorrow could be different, and I'll still have options. And I can talk about it either way.

Yeah, sorry… super rambling. Nice to be able to say it out loud, though.

Very well said, not rambling at all. I think most people here can relate to what you're going through, and it definitely does feel great to have options!

 

[FadingSentinel]

I wouldn't really say this site is great for recovery for most people at least. More like the opposite effect at least that's what I seem to notice in myself since I'm exposed to the topic so much more often now. Also the fact that the recovery forum is 15 times less active does show where priorities lay in general.

 

[Emeralds]

I don't think this forum is the best place for recovery. I agree that it's important to be able to talk about your problems and about feeling suicidal. The problem is that when you come on here, you are exposing yourself to too much negativity and doom posting. It's basically a negative echo chamber where people are feeding off of each others negatively. Coming on here is only going to re enforce your suicidal thoughts and make them worse.

Someone who wants to recover needs to be in a more positive environment. They need to try to focus on the good things in life no matter how small instead of only focusing on the bad things.

 

[vanillamilkshakes]

This place helps me cope, I find so much comfort knowing I'm not alone in this feeling of depression

 

[jello]

Yeah, for sure, I used to be a total shitshow when I joined this forum; I was constantly self-sabotaging, self-harming, self-flagellating. I am by no means cured, but I have come a very long way; I have talked to people like Dot, Againstthewind, and Compodulator from here nearly every day, and have made so much progress. I never could have come even close to where I am now. I feel a bit hopeful about my future sometimes. In the past, when I first joined, I was dead set on catching the bus.

 

[Defenestration]

Total agree