How best to address the issue of would-be suicides on Yahoo! Answers? Is it better to address or ignore?

Question

Is it better to address or ignore these apparent cries for help?

This is a serious general question for psychologists and armchair psychologists about how best to handle cries for help of potential would-be suicides encountered here on YA.

To set the scenario as one might encounter it:

While traveling at light speed through cyberspace here you come across a striking question related to the overwrought interest in suicide of another human being.
The questioner may challenge you for specific reasons why "not do it."
In extreme cases the questioner may ask for the best methods to accomplish the final deed.
He/she may inquire whether one will "go to hell" for this sin.
Reading the sparse details of the question, if you are a sensitive individual, lots of your buttons are being pushed.
You know little or nothing about the individual asking the question.
Often that individual is new to YA so you can't check their answers and other questions to get more clues about them.

You don't know the person's age. Could be 16 or 60.
You don't know his/her interests.
Or philosophical, religious/spirititual beliefs.
Thanks to Internet anonymity you can't even be sure about gender.
You know nothing about school/job details; social interaction or lack of it; sexual preference or gender identification.
You have no knowledge whether this person has close friends, a loving family, a support system of any type.
You have no idea how serious the individual is.
You don't know whether the whole thing is someone"s bizarre sick joke, perhaps a bored teenager having a little "fun."

In short, you are completely in the dark.

How does one best respond - - - - or not respond - - - - to this? Taking into account the limitations of communication in this medium, even if "chatting" were allowed.

WESBRI: How does one determine ZIP code , name, address of questioner? Everything here on YA is anonymous.

Answer 1

always respond to and take suicide seriously although sometimes
you have very little to go on, you are not necessarily in the dark there are always common reasons as to why people think about suicide depression, loss of family or job, attitude, health issues and so on suicide is all ways a cry for help sometimes a total stranger can help a person more than a family member, because a family member may be too close to the person to and not able to see the problems the only thing you can do to help the person is to try to cover all the bases and allways give that person a reason to live, not a guilt trip as to why they would do this always tell the person to get help if u are concerned that the person does not really have these thoughts it does not matter do not take that chance just by asking this question means the person has thought about it a very good question

Answer 2

It's true that there is no way of knowing who the person is who questions suicide in many ways. And it may be true that the question is a hoax. However, it's truly gratifying to note that the Yahoo answer community, on the whole, gives thoughtful, helpful, kind and caring responses to those individuals. Most responses encourage the person to get help, which is all that can be done in this type of forum.

I think your question is moot.

Answer 3

You have the moral obligation of reporting to the authorities. First find out the person Zip code and then reported to your local police so they can get in touch with the authorities there.
Baker Act is a law that provide mental health professionals and police with the legal authorization to hospitalize any person who is danger to others or self for 72 hours for a psychiatric evaluation. from that moment on, all depends on the doctors....And you could save a life.

Answer 4

I commented once on someones thoughts of suicide. Told him to get help and all that good stuff, you know life is worth it, think of the others in your life. I didn't think much about it until about a week later when he emailed me thanking me for taking the time to write, that maybe if a complete stranger cared someone close would care. He said he had made an appointment to speak to his priest. He could have been lying but maybe not...

Answer 5

In the Beginning God created heavens and earth.
God gives you air to breathe and sunshine to enjoy.
God gives you water to drink and food to eat.
God gives you a wonderful body and sound mind, to live.
God loves you, and you are precious to Him.
Son of God died on the Cross to save us from condemnation.
Jesus’ love is boundless and everlasting.
We have the hope of Heaven through Jesus.
Life therefore has fantastic and glorious future!
(Digestion of above can even prevent depression and suicidal thoughts.)

Answer 6

Lack of response may send a sign of lack of care. Response needs to be positive and to the point.

Answer 7

suicide is a sensitive issue it should always be given response genuinely hoping that the suicide rate comes down

Answer 8

If it was me posting something like that I would WANT a response, no matter what it was about or how it was said, just so long as it wasn't negative!