Tony Sidaway wrote:
On 2/19/06, Robert Merkel
<robert.merkel(a)benambra.org> wrote:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reference_desk/Science#Painless_suic…
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
Ec