Board Thread:Wiki discussion/@comment-31208684-20180507235107

Several users in ROBLOX like to mention about suicide and self-harm in the form of a joke that ends up being offensive, yet it still continues. It's almost as if using self-harm related words toward others are now used as indirect jokes such as when people use the words "gay" or "autistic".

You probably don't see my point, but the thing is, suicide is not a joke. Approximately 40,000 people die from self-harm injuries every year in the US, and internationally, over 1 million people commit suicide, which is about one death in the world every 40 seconds. Suicide is now one of the top 10 leading causes of deaths in the US, between Septicemia and Kidney Disease. The statistics continue to rise, yet hardly anyone seems to be concerned about these situations.

Why?

Because some users have an idea that Suicide is a joke or some sort of plea to withdraw from activities. I'm not trying to direct the blame at anyone, but I'm just seeing a bit more carelessness into these types of situations.

Imagine if you had lost your best friend due to his detrimental thoughts taking over him and ended up becoming the reason he's gone. There will be pain throughout the family, to you, their best friend, and others who had been there for them... even those who just plain knew them. It would be absolutely heart-aching to experience one of these types of situations, because it's the last from what we want to hear or see.

Let's bring back the statistics of 1,000,000 people. This statistic tallies that about 1 person in under 1 minute (roughly 40 seconds) would lose their life through the means of self-harm. That's one too many,

Now... you may not see it, but there will be people who, even if they may seem happy, may undergo a lot of stress through their life.

If you want to identify someone who may be feeling depressed or suicidal, use the PATH IS WARM procedure.

P - Purposelessness: The person may not think they are fit for the world. They may share this feeling of not belonging, when they actually matter the most.

A - Anxiety: This is a major situation. People with anxiety tend to get stressed a bit more easily, to the point where even the smallest of situations can be a major setback for them.

T - Trapped: The person may be stuck to their own emotions which keep them cornered, which ties in with...

H - Hopelessness/Helplessness: Maybe the person does not find anyone that he deems trustworthy to share his feelings to. It is also a given that there are some people who find the comfort of releasing their feelings by sharing this to others to remove the stress, yet at the same time they don't feel heard or not helped out. 

I - Ideation: The word Ideation is a psychological term meaning the formation of ideas and concepts. This can include detrimental images and thoughts released out as words.

S - Substance Abuse: The person may continuously use a form of substance in a manner it shouldn't be used, which would end up as harmful.

W - Withdrawal: This is also a notable one. Withdrawal is the act of taking oneself from doing something. Anytime you see someone being more and more reluctant to join one of their favorite activities or do something fun, it's a notable sign that there is some stress involved.

A - Anger: People who feel like they are stuck to their own emotions may have the tendency to have the "unusual" behavior of getting more stressed and angry on frequent basis, not from what they are originally deemed to be known. This may be how they release their emotions.

R - Recklessness: The definition of this word is "showing or having no regard over dangerous situations or consequences. Their actions may be seen as out of the ordinary and harmful, yet they may not act as though it is problematic.

M - Mood Changes: Everybody has a personality, and over time it changes and we all know that. However, people will have their behavior changed into something that we won't originally be able to identify since they never had it in the first place. This can range through attitude and actions. However, this can include the feeling of emotion. What once might have been a happy person may be one who seldom talks and feels bittersweet. Anytime these mood changes are imminent, it is a notable sign as well.

As a person who may know someone who is feeling depressed, your best effort may be to confront them in a formal and comforting manner. How can you do this?

1. Try reaching out to them and tell him you want to help them and will be there for them.

2. Have empathy for people who feel this way. Empathy is seemingly lessening of the period of time to the point people would say "is lacking".

3. Try not to bring up the topic of suicide or depression immediately into the conversation. Say something like, "I've noticed you've been down recently" and anything similar to the intensity of this suggestion. If they bring up the topic of suicide, then state to them how the situation is a treatable situation (often called a mental disorder) to lighten that person.

4. Ask questions regarding how they are feeling. Remember, try not to be informal. Ask questions like "When did you feel this way" or "How can I best support you right now".

5. Remember, to check up with them every now and then to make sure they are alright. If situations are getting worse, please refer to below.

If these situations are serious at this moment and provokes serious amounts of worry. Please refer to the Suicide Prevention Centre or to the hotline: 1-800-273-8255, or any family-related or medial locations.

If you are one of these people who feel depressed, remember that you are not alone and people, including us, will always be there for you every step in the way :).

Thank you for listening. You can take this as some sort of rant or whatnot, but I hope this sparks awareness to a growing situation.

~Sincerely

Parkour2906  