Comments on Obsolete: Scum-watch: Dubious investigations into "suicide chat groups" and lying to the bereaved.

I agree this is an in depth comment and the person...

2010-09-28T11:24:44.651+01:00

I agree this is an in depth comment and the person is to be congratulated for the concern and detail whilst discussing loss of life.My heartfelt sorrow goes out to those families as their pain will be for their lifetime.
I have a particular interest as my family has been affected by the threat of suicide for over a decade.This is no longer the case,help finally came unfortunately through crisis but we were "lucky".From my experience and now my involvement with prevention and awareness of quality mental health,I can look back and see gaping chasms where I as a carer(but unaware that I was one)did not get the support and enthusiastic mechanisms to use in order to stop that crisis level being arrived at.The story could have been tragic as for these families.We were ultimately given a diagnosis(not by Drs in the UK I might add)the correct medication and now all aspects of suicide have vanished.Life is vibrant,life is reasonably normal if there is such a thing!The member threatened by illness causing the depression and hence urging suicide syas it is a second chance at life.
Having to live with the media labelling victims of mental illness as all cheats and scroungers is hard but a small price to pay for NOT losing a loved one.More help,more awareness,less apathy,massive amounts of input from GPs would be not only saving lives but saving the governements money and after all,finance is their motivation to provide those affected with a safety net?Compassion is a word we must constantly ask ourselves to accept responsibility for when loving our fellow human and when addressing whether we could have done a small deed toward prevention of these sad acts.

For some reason a comment left by Tom hasn't a...

2010-09-27T21:21:01.911+01:00

For some reason a comment left by Tom hasn't appeared here, despite Blogger emailing to me, so here it is:

This article has no place on the Internet and is simply not in keeping with mainstream reporting of this subject and the events. I’m hugely shocked how you could dare to even post it.

This is, you see, because it deals with the actual facts, and does not yield to sensationalism but rather intelligently looks at the newsgroup/postings in question rationally without an agenda. It also exposes some of the nastier traits of the press who don’t mind misleading the families of the deceased or the public at large. I was disappointed to see that even a BBC reporter gave the father of Steve Lumb the a very leading “these forums are sinister aren’t they” question. The poor father was trying to deal with the shock of losing his son and with no disrespect to him doesn’t know anything about the ASM newsgroup nor what the actual postings were.

I looked at the newsgroup archive the day the story broke and did not find that Joanne Lee nor Steve had been “egged on by sickos” to kill themselves. Rather they were people looking for a way out that did not put others at risk by jumping off buildings, in front of traffic or trains. They did not want to fail and end up permanently disabled in hospital nor did they want to die alone. I have huge sympathy with them and to a certain extent, though I’m not suicidal, empathise.

The right to die remains one of those subjects which is difficult to gain consensus on or even gain common ground on. It’s polarising more than almost any other topic. Many people for religious, moral or personal reasons can’t understand that for some people, ending their lives peacefully with respect for others is not only their right, but sometimes even the best thing for that person. Of course losing your girlfriend, job or some other painful but temporary life event isn’t a good reason to kill yourself (irrational suicide), and should be discouraged whilst offering support. But the right for an adult sane person to commit rational suicide should be understood and recognised, even if it’s something some people can never understand (and should perhaps be grateful they can’t). Our society seems to insist everyone lives as long as possible no matter how much suffering is involved. Encourage healthy, positive lives – don’t blindly encforce life against someone’s will irrespective of their situation.

I’ve become increasingly irritated at the misleading reports about this event and those involved. I’d post something to the Sun, Mirror or Daily Mail comment sections – but I know I’d be wasting my time. I’m glad Joanne nor Steve ever saw any of it and trust they are at peace.

Thanks for giving me a hysteria free but understanding place to post.

Amazing research on such an emotive subject, well ...

2010-09-24T12:44:50.536+01:00

Amazing research on such an emotive subject, well done

Very good post - a rather more serious and measure...

2010-09-24T08:52:35.494+01:00

Very good post - a rather more serious and measured look at the issues than the Sun could manage.

Regarding the editorial, it's worth noting that the Sun has been told off by the PCC for publishing excessive details of suicide methods: http://bit.ly/csTLLC