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Suicide Prevention (Reposted)
13 years ago
[This is a post written by Belic bear here; http://www.sofurry.com/view/393301 that I wanted to repost spread the word. Even if the button isn't installed or much is done, it's important to remeber that drama is drama and it's annoying, but that it is also short-term while possibly preventing a suicide is long-term and much more valuable.
We all need help and it's people like this that constantly care about others for no discernable profit that help do the world some good.]
Suicide Prevention (**CALL TO ACTION**)
Today I found an FA journal where someone was talking about how their social phobias had driven people away and left them isolated. They mentioned how they were beyond help and apologized to everyone they've hurt . . . and then said 'goodbye'.
I got a sick feeling in my stomach and knew I had to act. I sent the person a list of mental health hotline numbers to call, and then contacted the site admins via a trouble ticket and note. I waited 4.5 hours for a reply, and then was told that they 'cannot assist in this matter' even though they informed me in the same trouble ticket that their policy states they 'can release personally identifiable information (birth date, e-mail address, ISP/IP or other aliases) when such actions are necessary to to investigate reports of illegal activities, fraud or situations involving potential risk or endangerment to the physical safety of our users.' This certainly falls under 'potential risk' and 'endangerment to the physical safety of our users'. I don't know the real name of the person who wrote the journal, or their contact info, and I don't know where else to turn.
We need to fix this!
We've all seen depressed furs post very dramatic journals and then thankfully be fine the next day. Sadly, we've also seen far too many friends and loved ones end their lives. We need to take every cry for help seriously! Depression and mental illness is a very real condition that affects millions of people, and we as a community need a plan of action!
Death is permanent. One dark moment can take someone away from us forever. It doesn't need to happen! There's help out there! We've all been through some horrible times in our lives when we felt things would never get better . . . but they always do. With professional help, the support of family and friends, and time, the darkness always ends. We need to help people through those desperate moments so they have a chance to see that life is precious and worth living.
So I'm calling on FA, SoFurry, and ALL websites in this community to install an "emergency" button that not only provides users with online resources and hotline information, but allows them to submit an "emergency ticket" when they see someone in danger. These tickets would be monitored 24/7 for immediate response, and the administrators who handle them would have a definite plan of action so that if there's a potential threat to a fur's safety the proper authorities will be contacted immediately.
If it's a false alarm, then thank God. One of our fellow furs is alive and safe and we can rest easy. But if it's real and we save just ONE life . . . isn't it worth it?
I'm sending this information to site owners in hopes that we can take action and help our community. If this is something you'd like to see on your website of choice, contact the site owner and ask them to include it.
Our Furry Community isn't just about artwork, fursuits, conventions, and having a good time. We're a family, and we need to look out for one another.
If you or someone you know needs help and doesn't know where to turn, the following websites offer help:
http://www.healthyplace.com/other-i.....urces/#Hotline
http://psychcentral.com/helpme.htm
We all need help and it's people like this that constantly care about others for no discernable profit that help do the world some good.]
Suicide Prevention (**CALL TO ACTION**)
Today I found an FA journal where someone was talking about how their social phobias had driven people away and left them isolated. They mentioned how they were beyond help and apologized to everyone they've hurt . . . and then said 'goodbye'.
I got a sick feeling in my stomach and knew I had to act. I sent the person a list of mental health hotline numbers to call, and then contacted the site admins via a trouble ticket and note. I waited 4.5 hours for a reply, and then was told that they 'cannot assist in this matter' even though they informed me in the same trouble ticket that their policy states they 'can release personally identifiable information (birth date, e-mail address, ISP/IP or other aliases) when such actions are necessary to to investigate reports of illegal activities, fraud or situations involving potential risk or endangerment to the physical safety of our users.' This certainly falls under 'potential risk' and 'endangerment to the physical safety of our users'. I don't know the real name of the person who wrote the journal, or their contact info, and I don't know where else to turn.
We need to fix this!
We've all seen depressed furs post very dramatic journals and then thankfully be fine the next day. Sadly, we've also seen far too many friends and loved ones end their lives. We need to take every cry for help seriously! Depression and mental illness is a very real condition that affects millions of people, and we as a community need a plan of action!
Death is permanent. One dark moment can take someone away from us forever. It doesn't need to happen! There's help out there! We've all been through some horrible times in our lives when we felt things would never get better . . . but they always do. With professional help, the support of family and friends, and time, the darkness always ends. We need to help people through those desperate moments so they have a chance to see that life is precious and worth living.
So I'm calling on FA, SoFurry, and ALL websites in this community to install an "emergency" button that not only provides users with online resources and hotline information, but allows them to submit an "emergency ticket" when they see someone in danger. These tickets would be monitored 24/7 for immediate response, and the administrators who handle them would have a definite plan of action so that if there's a potential threat to a fur's safety the proper authorities will be contacted immediately.
If it's a false alarm, then thank God. One of our fellow furs is alive and safe and we can rest easy. But if it's real and we save just ONE life . . . isn't it worth it?
I'm sending this information to site owners in hopes that we can take action and help our community. If this is something you'd like to see on your website of choice, contact the site owner and ask them to include it.
Our Furry Community isn't just about artwork, fursuits, conventions, and having a good time. We're a family, and we need to look out for one another.
If you or someone you know needs help and doesn't know where to turn, the following websites offer help:
http://www.healthyplace.com/other-i.....urces/#Hotline
http://psychcentral.com/helpme.htm
