Does WP try to help people who may harm themselves?

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I just saw yet another message posted by someone who wants to commit suicide. I find it very disturbing and beg them not to do it, but that's really all I can do. I was wondering if WP gets a message about suicide or someone harming themselves in some other way i.e. substance abuse, do they e-mail them links to sites and people that can help them? I don't like to think that the message I just read is the last one that person will ever send.

I don't think its good to tell people how to harm themselves.....and I would hope most people here don't do that, but there are quite a few people on this site so it's hard to say.

The mods might be able to alert the authorities near the person, but they will likely do nothing unless there is a clear, explicit and imminent threat.

Otherwise, all we can do is beg them not to, and maybe tell them why we feel that way.

provided its not something like 'you're no better than a murderer.'

How would the mods know where such a person lives?

We are all aspies and apparantly like world class computer hackers

As to the original question, I don't know how they would know. And I don't know what they truly could do anyway. If cops are notified and come and do a welfare check on you, all that's required is to say that no, it's some crazy internet stalker, and then they leave. So if someone is truly committed, I can't see how that would help them, unless they already have an injury or are obviously intoxicated (which is legal to be in your own home).

I would hope that someone would be able to talk them out of it. I probably wouldn't be the best choice to try to do that, because even though I may care, my choice of words or thoughts or ideas is not always really the best.

Sometimes, people put their city of residence in their profiles. Sometimes, the person leaves enough details about themselves that the authorities can narrow the search to a specific area. And sometimes, the IP address is easily obtainable - not always, but sometimes.

Someone kills, someone dies, everyone else suffers ... am I referring to murder or suicide?

Well you left out the most important part, so who knows?

As for profile information... none of it is credible. Most people use fake information when they register to websites on the internet. No one wants it to fall into the wrong hands after all. I doubt anyone would bother to try and work out exactly who to contact in order to possibly intervene with a possible suicide attempt. In fact the authorities may refuse to respond anyway.

Murder and Suicide are not the same, most people who have survived suicide attempts don't really like being compared to murderers especially when they come into the Haven for a bit of support or maybe some advice and happen to click on a thread only to see one of your not so nice comments about whatever topic is at hand here.

Also a murderer murders someone, as in exerts power over another person without their consent and deprives them of their life. Someone who commits suicide is probably suffering and can't see any other way out and unfortunately makes the choice to end it but does not violate another persons right to life.

So how the hell are those the same thing? sure people who know the person who killed them self are going to suffer because its screwed up that such a thing took place and death tends to be sad for most people, its also important to keep in mind the individual who commits suicide was suffering as well its not just the family and friends afterward who suffer you know. Anyways I don't think one can really argue that because in the cases of murder and suicide grieving friends and family are left behind they are the same thing and that someone who's suicidal is no better than a murderer.

It astounds me that the distinction between suicide and murder needs to be explained to a grown man.

Does WP try to help people who may harm themselves?

No, they don't care.

What makes you say that?

Have you seen some of the posts on here lately?

lostonearth35, alex has ruled that moderators should not really get involved when a member is suicidal, on the advice of his lawyer.

MidLifeAspie explained it here:

http://www.wrongplanet.net/postp3444153.html#3444153

however, i am a human being so if you are concerned about a member let me know and i can at least review the situation to see what i can do. usually there is no real danger but i can always check. i have some tools and connections that i can use and i would always try to prevent someone from committing suicide if i could. i have intervened and gotten assistance to members on more than one occasion, although i am not supposed to. i could lose my volunteer job as moderator for stepping in, so i sure as hell don't do it unless there is a serious (and imminent) threat.

Fnord explained it very well. i should point out he is personally responsible for alerting the moderators on more than one occasion when he was worried about a member. for all his brashness, when it comes to real people in real danger... he seriously gives a crap.

Freak-Z, we don't read every thread. if you see a suicidal person who is not getting help, think about what you can do to help them (i.e. try leaving a post in the moderator attention thread or contact the person privately for support) instead of throwing around accusations that we don't care.

Sweetleaf (and Fnord), do not resurrect the argument about suicide from the other thread, as that thread was locked.

sorry it just angers me being compared to a murderer...its hard not to react.