Posted by JenStar on August 29, 2004, at 14:19:12
In reply to suicide discussion, posted by shortelise on August 29, 2004, at 13:17:21
ShortE, that's a really good point. I know you said it was obvious, but sometimes it really helps me to take a step back and think about stuff (sometimes the obvious stuff is really deep when you start pondering it!)
For me, I don't know how to tell the difference between 'asking for help' and 'really meaning it' so I probably over-respond when people even mention words that rhyme with suicide. Sorry, I know it's not funny, it's just that I'm hypersensitive to it.
I think it's drummed our society that we need to respond ASAP if someone is about to commit suicide; we feel pre-event guilt; we feel that we not only have a duty to prevent it but that we also have the power to prevent it if we only offer the right talisman or say the right magic words. So we keep trying and trying, kind of like using different fishing lures, hoping that ONE of our messages will hit home and prevent anything from happening.
It's good to keep in mind that there may be a point of exhaustion, though, for the recipient as well as the giver...
I wish there was a way to know better.
Do you have any suggestions? Any experiences?
thanks for bringing this up. I think it is an important thing to discuss.
JenStar
poster:JenStar
thread:383678
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20040820/msgs/383707.html