Suicidal 'online' friend, help!

[Thor]

So this is a new situation for me, someone I've known for about 5yrs from playing games online with a few buddies, we've gotten to know each other really well but never met in person.

Anyhow, I think he has bipolar disorder and has once checked in to a psychiatric facility, he seemed good for a while but today I got this on facebook:

For the past month, on and off, I've been somewhat suicidal. I've powered through it, but I just can't anymore, dude. I've been to a psychiatric hospital; I'm thinking of checking myself back in sometime soon.

I wound up putting a knife to my abdomen this morning, took 7 Seroquel, and slept for 15 hours straight.

I just wanted to let you know, any support would be appreciated.

To say the least I'm very alarmed and told him all the things I could think that were the right thing to say; any suggestions by anyone who's dealt with bipolar's or someone in his state would be deeply appreciated.

[rubecube]

Great news!

[Pinner]

In his own words he suggested checking in, (not checking out) that's all you have to do, just support that decision, right?

[Gozer]

Do a barrel roll!

[Thor]

Yeah pretty much what I said, that he needs support and he needs to seek help asap, not next week, etc..

We'll see what his reply is, if I knew any of his family, or real life friends I'd have them check on him but what else can I really do from here.

BTW great news is perfect for him, because when I told my gaming friends on vent I was flying out to Iceland on the 14th he was the first one to say "I hope your plane crashes"..

So he'd probably have loved it if I said great news instead of being all serious, oh well.

[OILFAN #81]

I've dealt with people in this situation who were not online friends. Make sure that they can talk to this about friends/family. That is the most important thing. A lot of people feel alone and that is a big reason why suicidal thoughts enter ones mind. Get them to talk to any family members about it to make more people aware of the severity of the situation. Additionally, support your friend by telling them that getting the necessary help (through the hospital or any other means) is definitely a positive step and make them feel important by telling them that they have a lot to live for and have so much in life to see still (that this is just something they have to overcome and it will make them a stronger person).

I knew my friends' family so I got them involved. I imagine that you don't know this person's family but encourage them to talk to a family member about the problem and even if he/she tells you that they say they are busy/don't care, to go through everything with them. A lot of times, family members do not know what is going on because the individual isolates themselves from their family thinking they are too busy/don't care/don't want to bother them.

[chalms04]

I wound up putting a knife to my abdomen this morning, took 7 Seroquel, and slept for 15 hours straight.

Tell him to Ctrl+Z before he Alt+F4s.

[pepper24]

I'd suggest he gets out of his parents dark basement and get some fresh air. There is life beyond a computer.

[Huntingwhale]

Get a girl/boyfriend.

[HPLovecraft]

The person is doing the classic call for attention/help. Show them support, and make sure they speak to someone offline about it. Not sure how you can make sure that's done, but they should

Being disconnected from those in their actual life and feeling more responsive to disembodied text on the internet could be one of he major reasons for their feelings of depression. They need to connect to a person that can give them more support than you can online.

Try to get them to do that.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Similar story for me, Marc Ciampa went to work for the Oilers.

[mykalberta]

Are you sure its legit?

Seems an odd thing to write at the end "I just wanted to let you know, any support would be appreciated."

Maybe its par for the course because he is crazy but it seems to much like a hoax, like he might be an attention whore. If you have never met the man in person you dont know him, you only know what he has said.

[afc wimbledon]

Type after me..

I'm real sorry to hear things arn't going well, I'd be real upset if you hurt yourself, please for my sake go check into the hospital, it's the best thing for you to do right now, please let me know you are going to do this.

I have way more experiance with this than I wish, you need to stay very caring (even if its bull) but very focused on hospital/treatment, use as much emotional guilt as you can to convince him to go get help.

[Jason14h]

Ask for all their gear!!!

[Thor]

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

Type after me..

I'm real sorry to hear things arn't going well, I'd be real upset if you hurt yourself, please for my sake go check into the hospital, it's the best thing for you to do right now, please let me know you are going to do this.

I have way more experiance with this than I wish, you need to stay very caring (even if its bull) but very focused on hospital/treatment, use as much emotional guilt as you can to convince him to go get help.

I realized late last night a buddy of mine has his phone number, he's gonna get in touch with him and see how he is.

Its a classic cry for help, thats good news at least; and yeah I did of course just focus on being very caring and telling him about all the good things/friends that care about him.

Thanks for the advice.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Are you sure its legit?

Seems an odd thing to write at the end "I just wanted to let you know, any support would be appreciated."

Maybe its par for the course because he is crazy but it seems to much like a hoax, like he might be an attention whore. If you have never met the man in person you dont know him, you only know what he has said.

Like I've said he's been a friend for 5yrs, and he's been into a mental hospital once before, bipolar is a nasty affliction I've known someone in my past that suffered trough some bad years and he was suicidal more than I can recall.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by Thor

Like I've said he's been a friend for 5yrs, and he's been into a mental hospital once before, bipolar is a nasty affliction I've known someone in my past that suffered trough some bad years and he was suicidal more than I can recall.

If you have never met him how do you know anything he says is true. Human beings at their core are animals of instinct, that instinct being to not tell the truth. That is a lot easier when you never meet the person so you can size them up and confront them.

I would be supportive of course, but I wouldnt lose much sleep over it if I were you is all I am saying.

I cant say I have met many suicide cases, but it doesnt seem the norm for someone who is contemplating suicide to actually say "umm I was thinking of killing myself, any support you could offer would be appreciated". Thats not a classic case of a "call for help" that is an actual case which likely doesnt happen because one would think a mind that is contemplating suicide isnt someone who broadcasts that stuff.

Also, if you know him as well as you say you do than you should know how to contact his parents/relatives so they can intervene. If you dont know that than again, he/she is just an "internet" friend and you have to take what he/she says with a grain of salt no matter the amount of time you "know" him imo.

[Pinner]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Human beings at their core are animals of instinct, that instinct being to not tell the truth. .

I don't agree with anything you posted, none of it. You couldn't be any more wrong in my opinion, Wow.


I think it's human nature to tell the truth...

[Thor]

Often its easier to reach out to people online than is to your family or close friends, the internet is sometimes a great place to reach out when you feel like that.

[mykalberta]

Just an FYI, I do see the irony in me posting online about people on the internet lying just in case anyone were to mention it.