I do the same thing. I think the reason it calms me down is because I gain a sense of control over the thoughts that may be floating around in my head because of new found knowledge. For example I may be thinking about hanging my self at the moment but I may be unsure of how or where or when and all that kind of stuff. Reading about others attempts and struggles gives me more strength over that idea in the future.
On the other hand, I feel a sense of community because I am hearing from other who are in the same mindset, or maybe even people who I can talk to, who would more than likely just talk with you rather than try to solve/ FIX you. Its a simple thing but it does a lot for me.
