I recently read a lot about suicide forums by scientists. Their view on suicide forums is way more heterogeneous than the NYT portrayed it.
I try to elaborate on what I have read. The source is in German language.
https://www.db-thueringen.de/servlets/MCRFileNodeServlet/dbt_derivate_00035201/weibels.pdf
I hope it is okay for the author of this doctoral thesis to quote her. She also talks about the dangers/negative sides of suicide forums. But I think we all have read enough of them in the NYT. Moreover she evaluates in her conclusion that suicide is a topic which is not enough talked about and emphasizes more the positive effects. The demonization of suicide forums, the cult-framing and spilling over of suicides cannot be kept up by her data. Method talk and getting lethal means, suicide competition are not the main focus. Instead the social interaction and decreasing of suicidal thoughts is the main focus.
The positive influence of suicide forums is often described as mental support and relieving fuction. The sentiment of sufferers that others feel similar and that they are not alone with their thoughts and their sensitivities can be comforting. Moreover the understanding instead of judging or questioning can be comforting. The members often can self-reflect on what they write (I personally can only emphasize on that point. This writing has for me a therapeutic effect and helped me in the past to reflect about my mental state which is very important to stay stable.) and support other members in the forum or in the chat. Furthermore they get the opportunity to distance themselves from the suicidal cycle by using humor and irony. This is especially helpful because of the low-threshold by using the internet to communicate with other people. It is way more easier than the real life face-to-face communication. Sorrows, fears and pressures can be shared in a safe-space without censorship and uninhibited. If the members gets understanding reactions which prove that someone else is listening many users develop the feeling of communion, belonging-to and being accepted. ( I could not agree more to this analysis. This perfectly fits my personal experience with SS). This can in turn influence the individual's experience with their currently life/situation positively . That is why it can have a suicide preventive character.
Even method discussions and expressing the wish of suicide actions can be in this sense positively connoted because some users feel in suicide some sort of comfort and this can be relieving. The knowledge to end their own life at any time is seen by some of them as comforting fantasy that helps to overcome current crisis. They feel some sense of remaining freedom of choice. (With my personal experience I can once again only agree to this position.)
("Als positive Wirkung wird häufig eine psychisch stützende und entlastende Funktion beschrieben: Das Gefühl der Betroffenen, dass andere Ähnliches empfinden, dass sie mit ihren Gedanken und Befindlichkeiten nicht allein sind, sondern Verständnis anstatt von Verurteilung und Infrage-Stellen entgegen gebracht bekommen, dass sie sich selbst reflexiver und unterstützend für andere Teilnehmer des Forums oder Chats erleben und dass sie die Möglichkeit bekommen, sich durch Humor und Ironie von suizidalen Kreisläufen zu distanzieren, ist anhand des niederschwelligen, computervermittelten Kommunikationsangebots für viele leichter erfahrbar als im sozialen face-to-face-Umgang. (vgl.: Fiedler, 2003, S. 38f.) Verzweiflung, Sorgen, Ängste und Belastungen im durch anonyme Kommunikation geschützten Raum ungehemmt und unzensiert mitteilen zu können und darauf verständnisvolle und zuhörende Reaktionen zu erhalten, entwickelt bei vielen Nutzern das Gefühl von Gemeinschaft, Dazugehören und Akzeptiert-Werden. Dies wiederum kann positive Einflüsse auf das individuelle Erleben der aktuellen Lebenssituation hervorrufen und damit einen suizidpräventiven Charakter entfalten. (vgl.: Eichenberg, 2002, S. 6 und Eichenberg, 2004, S. 1) Selbst Methodendiskussion und das Äußern von Suizidwünschen und -handlungen können in diesem Sinne positiv konnotiert werden, da sie für einige Foren- und Chat-User eine Art Trost darstellen und entlastend wirken. (vgl.: Fiedler/ Lindner, 2002, S. 5) Das Wissen, dass sie ihr eigenes Leben jederzeit beenden können, fühlt sich für manche als tröstliche Fantasie an, "die hilft, aktuelle Krisen zu überstehen, da immer noch die Entscheidungsfreiheit verbleibt" (Fiedler, 2003, S. 39").) page 61/62 of the doctoral thesis
Humans who don't want to see a professional can get help through the internet for example with low-threshold counselling websites. Often it is said that forums and chats can have an emotional relief and encourage to search help outside of the internet. They offer a place to talk about the topic suicide without stigmatization. Moreover the forum can be reached 24/7 to help in acute crisis. (My personal experience: this is absolutely true. Time with my therapist or self-help group is way way too less and suicide is often to stigmatized there.) Due to the fact that there are different kind of people in the forum the person learns new perspectives on their situation. This is a reaon why the person might become less suicidal. (Through this new perspective.)
(I did not quote the whole thing. The thread is even yet way too long. But you can find it (in German on page 62 of the document)
They also make study how long the members stay on such websites. I did not read it fully. It is around 200 pages long. I am surprised how much scientifical information I can find in German language. The information that I read does not fit with the NYT or other media narratives. Or they openly contradict their framing.
I try to elaborate on what I have read. The source is in German language.
https://www.db-thueringen.de/servlets/MCRFileNodeServlet/dbt_derivate_00035201/weibels.pdf
I hope it is okay for the author of this doctoral thesis to quote her. She also talks about the dangers/negative sides of suicide forums. But I think we all have read enough of them in the NYT. Moreover she evaluates in her conclusion that suicide is a topic which is not enough talked about and emphasizes more the positive effects. The demonization of suicide forums, the cult-framing and spilling over of suicides cannot be kept up by her data. Method talk and getting lethal means, suicide competition are not the main focus. Instead the social interaction and decreasing of suicidal thoughts is the main focus.
The positive influence of suicide forums is often described as mental support and relieving fuction. The sentiment of sufferers that others feel similar and that they are not alone with their thoughts and their sensitivities can be comforting. Moreover the understanding instead of judging or questioning can be comforting. The members often can self-reflect on what they write (I personally can only emphasize on that point. This writing has for me a therapeutic effect and helped me in the past to reflect about my mental state which is very important to stay stable.) and support other members in the forum or in the chat. Furthermore they get the opportunity to distance themselves from the suicidal cycle by using humor and irony. This is especially helpful because of the low-threshold by using the internet to communicate with other people. It is way more easier than the real life face-to-face communication. Sorrows, fears and pressures can be shared in a safe-space without censorship and uninhibited. If the members gets understanding reactions which prove that someone else is listening many users develop the feeling of communion, belonging-to and being accepted. ( I could not agree more to this analysis. This perfectly fits my personal experience with SS). This can in turn influence the individual's experience with their currently life/situation positively . That is why it can have a suicide preventive character.
Even method discussions and expressing the wish of suicide actions can be in this sense positively connoted because some users feel in suicide some sort of comfort and this can be relieving. The knowledge to end their own life at any time is seen by some of them as comforting fantasy that helps to overcome current crisis. They feel some sense of remaining freedom of choice. (With my personal experience I can once again only agree to this position.)
("Als positive Wirkung wird häufig eine psychisch stützende und entlastende Funktion beschrieben: Das Gefühl der Betroffenen, dass andere Ähnliches empfinden, dass sie mit ihren Gedanken und Befindlichkeiten nicht allein sind, sondern Verständnis anstatt von Verurteilung und Infrage-Stellen entgegen gebracht bekommen, dass sie sich selbst reflexiver und unterstützend für andere Teilnehmer des Forums oder Chats erleben und dass sie die Möglichkeit bekommen, sich durch Humor und Ironie von suizidalen Kreisläufen zu distanzieren, ist anhand des niederschwelligen, computervermittelten Kommunikationsangebots für viele leichter erfahrbar als im sozialen face-to-face-Umgang. (vgl.: Fiedler, 2003, S. 38f.) Verzweiflung, Sorgen, Ängste und Belastungen im durch anonyme Kommunikation geschützten Raum ungehemmt und unzensiert mitteilen zu können und darauf verständnisvolle und zuhörende Reaktionen zu erhalten, entwickelt bei vielen Nutzern das Gefühl von Gemeinschaft, Dazugehören und Akzeptiert-Werden. Dies wiederum kann positive Einflüsse auf das individuelle Erleben der aktuellen Lebenssituation hervorrufen und damit einen suizidpräventiven Charakter entfalten. (vgl.: Eichenberg, 2002, S. 6 und Eichenberg, 2004, S. 1) Selbst Methodendiskussion und das Äußern von Suizidwünschen und -handlungen können in diesem Sinne positiv konnotiert werden, da sie für einige Foren- und Chat-User eine Art Trost darstellen und entlastend wirken. (vgl.: Fiedler/ Lindner, 2002, S. 5) Das Wissen, dass sie ihr eigenes Leben jederzeit beenden können, fühlt sich für manche als tröstliche Fantasie an, "die hilft, aktuelle Krisen zu überstehen, da immer noch die Entscheidungsfreiheit verbleibt" (Fiedler, 2003, S. 39").) page 61/62 of the doctoral thesis
Humans who don't want to see a professional can get help through the internet for example with low-threshold counselling websites. Often it is said that forums and chats can have an emotional relief and encourage to search help outside of the internet. They offer a place to talk about the topic suicide without stigmatization. Moreover the forum can be reached 24/7 to help in acute crisis. (My personal experience: this is absolutely true. Time with my therapist or self-help group is way way too less and suicide is often to stigmatized there.) Due to the fact that there are different kind of people in the forum the person learns new perspectives on their situation. This is a reaon why the person might become less suicidal. (Through this new perspective.)
(I did not quote the whole thing. The thread is even yet way too long. But you can find it (in German on page 62 of the document)
They also make study how long the members stay on such websites. I did not read it fully. It is around 200 pages long. I am surprised how much scientifical information I can find in German language. The information that I read does not fit with the NYT or other media narratives. Or they openly contradict their framing.
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