Does this site benefit you in any way?

[Authentic13]

Hi everyone. Just out of curiousity, a while ago there was a report about this forum where the CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association said that "[...]there is no value to this site, it doesn't benefit anyone - in fact it does quite the opposite[...]", defending the position that this forum shouldn't exist and it made me curious, is that true? Like, that person is obviously talking down to us, over us, pretending they know what we want, when they claim this forum doesn't benefit anyone despite there being clearly a demand for website like this one, right. And it seems to me people are making an account and participating here voluntarily, so I'd assume there must be some value to this website for the people who are using it. It's also important to fact-check these claims given this person seems to speak for the CMHA and it would be interesting to know if these people even remotely understand what goes on in the minds of suicidal people, if they understand what our needs and desires are and how we want society to treat us.

It seems to me these people think want to be treated like children and have other people decide what we're allowed to see and research online and what decisions we're allowed to make while I do think that people who use this forum want some degree of autonomy and a right to make their decisions regarding their own welfare and decide for themselves how they want to live this life and when they want to leave. That's how I want society to treat me, I found this forum in 2018 when I was in need for information to make my own decisions and a supportive community and I didn't agree with these experts that other people should have a right to tell me, as an autonomous adult, what I'm supposed to see online and which decisions I make for my own life, concerning my own welfare, are valid and appropiate and which aren't. I think these are deeply personal decisions and essentially nobody's business but mine. And I have a feeling that's echoed by a majority of people in this community.

So let's solve this dilemma. What do you think? I'd be curious to hear your opinion, feel free to explain your position in the comments below.

As indicated in the introduction to this thread, the fact that there are people on the site suggests that it benefits at least some people. I imagine the argument must turn on what is meant by "benefit." I would like to know what the CMHA means by benefit. From my perspective, I see camaraderie, information provision, the comfort of engaging with, at least, somewhat likeminded individuals, the validation of one's perspective, etc. as decided "benefits."

 

[eternalsunshine23]

Yes. Gives me a platform to express how I may be feeling

 

[SoFewMethods]

If it weren't for this site, I would've sliced my neck and failed to CTB

 

[Andro_USYD]

I can't even overstated just how nice this community is, Ive found fellow philosophers on here, a few good friends one whom I used to play chess with, and I genuinely feel like I can be myself without judgement.

Never been banned for posting my thoughts like the Reddit moderators and most importantly here it's okay to feel negative emotions. It brings me comfort when I'm suicidal to just know that tonnes of other people are feeling the same way and posting about it daily. I like the realness of people on here, it's uncanny. Kind people make me feel better by upvoting what I have to say and people are consistent. Although I'm not as involved as I want to be due to uni etc. I like to help people who are in bad situations as well. I feel like on this site I can actually be heard although I've always been too nervous to try out the live chat but maybe someday.

Never shut this site down, it's where I come when I'm at my weakest even if I just browse around and find a few recent posters who are in a similar situation it makes me feel so much better. Hopefully one day I can be a moderator maybe. That guy who made a YouTube video about this site promoting nihilistic, cult-like stuff is just dead wrong and I don't think they'll ever understand because they have too much seretonin. I am autistic and have ADHD and depression so my review is that this site is 10/10 favorite place to be.

 

[venomousSSërpent74]

I'd say for me its just an easy place to vent without being judged and its easy to find people who relate to you or been through similar things as you and to provide support for them although I'm rarely on here and pop in whenever I feel heavily suicidal or just want to be somewhere I feel at least halfway comfortable being in that mindset or when im lonely.also part of me feels like i'd be able to find another friend here but that's highly unlikely and I'm just glad to be somewhere where I don't have to mask as much.

 

[steppingoff]

It allows me to talk about it and plan for it.

 

[88124540]

Hi everyone. Just out of curiousity, a while ago there was a report about this forum where the CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association said that "[...]there is no value to this site, it doesn't benefit anyone - in fact it does quite the opposite[...]", defending the position that this forum shouldn't exist and it made me curious, is that true? Like, that person is obviously talking down to us, over us, pretending they know what we want, when they claim this forum doesn't benefit anyone despite there being clearly a demand for website like this one, right. And it seems to me people are making an account and participating here voluntarily, so I'd assume there must be some value to this website for the people who are using it. It's also important to fact-check these claims given this person seems to speak for the CMHA and it would be interesting to know if these people even remotely understand what goes on in the minds of suicidal people, if they understand what our needs and desires are and how we want society to treat us.

It seems to me these people think want to be treated like children and have other people decide what we're allowed to see and research online and what decisions we're allowed to make while I do think that people who use this forum want some degree of autonomy and a right to make their decisions regarding their own welfare and decide for themselves how they want to live this life and when they want to leave. That's how I want society to treat me, I found this forum in 2018 when I was in need for information to make my own decisions and a supportive community and I didn't agree with these experts that other people should have a right to tell me, as an autonomous adult, what I'm supposed to see online and which decisions I make for my own life, concerning my own welfare, are valid and appropiate and which aren't. I think these are deeply personal decisions and essentially nobody's business but mine. And I have a feeling that's echoed by a majority of people in this community.

So let's solve this dilemma. What do you think? I'd be curious to hear your opinion, feel free to explain your position in the comments below.

Yes, this site has benefited me greatly.
It's given me a place to see other people going through the same struggle, and talk about my struggles without being shamed or given false positivity or toxic positivity.
Yes, there is a drawback to a site like this, but i personally feel that the world would be worse if we don't have any place to have these discussions.
I don't like the thought of people ending their life, it brings me great sadness, but they shouldn't have to go through that alone.

 

[19andOverdue]

Hi everyone. Just out of curiousity, a while ago there was a report about this forum where the CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association said that "[...]there is no value to this site, it doesn't benefit anyone - in fact it does quite the opposite[...]", defending the position that this forum shouldn't exist and it made me curious, is that true? Like, that person is obviously talking down to us, over us, pretending they know what we want, when they claim this forum doesn't benefit anyone despite there being clearly a demand for website like this one, right. And it seems to me people are making an account and participating here voluntarily, so I'd assume there must be some value to this website for the people who are using it. It's also important to fact-check these claims given this person seems to speak for the CMHA and it would be interesting to know if these people even remotely understand what goes on in the minds of suicidal people, if they understand what our needs and desires are and how we want society to treat us.

It seems to me these people think want to be treated like children and have other people decide what we're allowed to see and research online and what decisions we're allowed to make while I do think that people who use this forum want some degree of autonomy and a right to make their decisions regarding their own welfare and decide for themselves how they want to live this life and when they want to leave. That's how I want society to treat me, I found this forum in 2018 when I was in need for information to make my own decisions and a supportive community and I didn't agree with these experts that other people should have a right to tell me, as an autonomous adult, what I'm supposed to see online and which decisions I make for my own life, concerning my own welfare, are valid and appropiate and which aren't. I think these are deeply personal decisions and essentially nobody's business but mine. And I have a feeling that's echoed by a majority of people in this community.

So let's solve this dilemma. What do you think? I'd be curious to hear your opinion, feel free to explain your position in the comments below.

They are absolute right in their diagnosis of this site being "quite the opposite" in their view. I hold the position that suicide is existentially preferable, so even though my point cannot be argued for rationally, we have saved countless souls by limiting their suffering.

 

[seeking2024]

ive seen a lot of info here that has prob saved some ppl from attempting wrecklessly and being messed up unintentionally.

 

[vetreadytodie1972]

Hi everyone. Just out of curiousity, a while ago there was a report about this forum where the CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association said that "[...]there is no value to this site, it doesn't benefit anyone - in fact it does quite the opposite[...]", defending the position that this forum shouldn't exist and it made me curious, is that true? Like, that person is obviously talking down to us, over us, pretending they know what we want, when they claim this forum doesn't benefit anyone despite there being clearly a demand for website like this one, right. And it seems to me people are making an account and participating here voluntarily, so I'd assume there must be some value to this website for the people who are using it. It's also important to fact-check these claims given this person seems to speak for the CMHA and it would be interesting to know if these people even remotely understand what goes on in the minds of suicidal people, if they understand what our needs and desires are and how we want society to treat us.

It seems to me these people think want to be treated like children and have other people decide what we're allowed to see and research online and what decisions we're allowed to make while I do think that people who use this forum want some degree of autonomy and a right to make their decisions regarding their own welfare and decide for themselves how they want to live this life and when they want to leave. That's how I want society to treat me, I found this forum in 2018 when I was in need for information to make my own decisions and a supportive community and I didn't agree with these experts that other people should have a right to tell me, as an autonomous adult, what I'm supposed to see online and which decisions I make for my own life, concerning my own welfare, are valid and appropiate and which aren't. I think these are deeply personal decisions and essentially nobody's business but mine. And I have a feeling that's echoed by a majority of people in this community.

So let's solve this dilemma. What do you think? I'd be curious to hear your opinion, feel free to explain your position in the comments below.

You are going to find my answer to be extremely weird. The 1st time I came to this website, I was hellbent to CTB as you say. And because I have tried and failed more times than I have fingers and toes, I was searching Google for "fail-safe methods." That is how I found the NY TIMES article which led me to you. And you opened up this entire world to me. Holy shit!!!! I'm not the only one who thinks about suicide 24/7/365! But now I have a support system that doesn't tell me I'm wrong, doesn't tell me I'm crazy, and best of all doesn't want to put me in the psych ward but YOU STILL BELIEVE ME. For me, this gives me just enough to stay alive for another day. I told you I'm weird.

 

[fleetingnight]

This is the reason I gave when I signed up: I think this is genuinely the only place I'm allowed to openly say how I feel without having my post deleted, account deleted, or the cops sent to my home. It is fucking suffocating not being able to talk about it. Everywhere else, I have to sugarcoat my words and lie with, "but I'm okay," or else be punished for daring to open up.

I really, honestly think it's good for websites to have policies against promoting suicide. Posting things with the intention of triggering people into hurting themselves, or trying to manipulate sad young people into thinking it's the only option they have as soon as they start struggling, is fucking awful. People who do that deserve to get in trouble for it.

But, it's gotten out of control. I got my account deleted on another site just for saying that I was suicidal. Punished for being honest about my feelings. I lie to the suicide hotline workers and put on a brave face, like I'm the ones comforting them and telling them it'll all be okay, for fear of getting hospitalized, or maybe fucking shot, by the cops. It's either this site, or shut the fuck up and drown in my sorrow.

 

[martinso67]

This is not because of the moderators or the people who run this board/site.
But I feel this site is getting and is too much mainstream (and popular).

I also don't know now the real purpose of this site. It's kind of between wanting to offer real method to end one's life for adult people who really want to. But also a site which tries to give a place where one can talk about their worries anonymously (like Reddit, bulettin boards, etc.)

Personally, I feel let down, because I could not find a way to end my life. Which is what this site seemed to be marketing itself as. Kind of like a real right to die website. Where one is "supported" passively, which is legal in countries with Euthanasia laws like Switzerland or Belgium.

I got the same treatment and experience like I did with Dignitas or Exit. They want to use your suffering and dreams.And End waste your attention, time and money (if you want to submit an application). Also gas light you that your suicide wish is not authentic and your desire. But it's because your mentally ill or your life style.
Interesting it is, that no one says that about people who choose a more unique life style like not wanting to work much. Or not wanting to marry. They would not tell you, that you are sick. But it's done by your own decision.