Tony Sidaway wrote:
On 2/19/06, Robert Merkel robert.merkel@benambra.org wrote:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reference_desk/Science#Painless_suici...
As a concerned human being, I would like to see if we can help to locate this user ASAP and get them some help if at all possible (and assuming they haven't acted already).
The person here didn't ask for help of that kinds, and his comments, such as I read them, indicate that he's in a fairly rational frame of mind and, if he needs to, able to seek the help he needs. Although this is a public page, I suggest that an approach consistent with Wikipedia's privacy policy is appropriate. The Samaritans (a telephone befriending organization that originated in the UK) deal with calls of this nature every day, and there are similar organisations available 24/7 in many countries. Their methodology, as I understand it, is similar to that of the confessional. They'll listen and provide friendly advice, but they don't (except perhaps in exceptional circumstances) intrude. This may be an appropriate model to adopt here.
We had one of these a couple of years ago, which was tracked down to a private school in Connecticut. Based on at least one of his previous edits I suspect that this individual is in Canada, and we do have an extensive network of suicide prevention help lines. See http://www.suicideinfo.ca/csp/go.aspx?tabid=77 for a series of phone numbers.
A person whose suicide is imminent does not need to ask about painless methods. He has likely gone over that territory many times before, and has already chosen his preferred method.
In some respects he is dealing with things rationally, and he is seeking help, but by all appearances he does not know to whom he can turn. The unusual demands of his father suggest that that avenue is not open. The reactions that he anticipates if he should talk about his concerns may in his mind be worse than suicide. A person in his position is concerned about being judged if he should reveal too much about himself. Even picking up the phone to call the local help line can be thwarted by this fear. Help lines, and other public agencies can be intimidating, and many of them are judgemental.
There is a very limited amount that we can do in the wiki, but at least we can give anonymity to his questions and the answers. I believe that there are situations where suicide is an appropriate course of action, but the last thing he needs is a debate on the morality that attaches to either side of the issue. The needs are more personal than that. There is nothing wrong with being willing to help, but who would continue to do so would remain his choice
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