Don’t videotape a suicide, doctors say – save that life

By The Nation

 

 

If you encounter someone standing on a high ledge pondering suicide, don’t whip out the phone camera – talk to them, however briefly.

 

Those few minutes could be enough to change the suicidal person’s mind, Mental Health Department director general Dr Boonreung Traireungworawat said on Monday.

 

His comments followed the suicide last week of a teenager in Si Sa Ket, whose fatal leap was recorded and the clip shared online.

 

People need to know how to handle situations like this better, Boonreung said. Offering help should be the common response, not taping the suicide. Making a video is just delivering a second blow to the distraught person and will hurt his family too, he said.

 

“We should shift from the desire to be the first to record another person’s life-or-death moment to the desire to help save a life,” Boonreung said.

 

Anyone can fall victim to stress in a world filled with competition, health issues and varying abilities to cope with difficulties.

 

Some problems aren’t easily resolved and the resulting anxiety continues to fester beneath the surface, to the point where suicide can feel like the only option, he said.

 

“If you encounter someone who looks sad or preoccupied on a high balcony or a bridge guardrail, see it as an expression of desperation and a call for help,” Boonreung said.

 

“You should help by calmly stepping up and talking to them in a friendly way, and smiling as if it were a normal greeting. Don’t grab them or pull at them because you could spook them. Just a brief chat, for one minute or five minutes, would be meaningful because it slows the person’s thinking down and provides time for them to reconsider.

 

“In most cases, suicide is a heat-of-the-moment impulse, and if the person can be calmed, he might come to his senses and refrain from self-harm.”

 

Saving a life – even if the incident isn’t recorded and shared on social media – will stay forever in the hearts of both the person saved and the one who saved him.

 

Dr Prapas Ukhranan, director of Prasrimahabhodi Psychiatric Hospital in Ubon Ratchathani, also pointed out that sharing photos or videos of suicides could prompt copycat behaviour among other people under stress.

 

“Ending your life doesn’t put an end to the problem,” he said. “People might think they’ve reached a dead end, but it’s really just an emotional dead end. When the mood lifts and they come to their senses, they can see possible solutions – or they can call the Mental Health Department hotline at 1323 for advice, at any time of day.”

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30352110

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-08-14

Kind of says it all , when you need to give this sort of advice to People. 

TIT.

Edited August 14, 20187 yr by stanleycoin

Is this his thesis?  after all that education?

Edited August 14, 20187 yr by BobBKK

17 hours ago, webfact said:

“Ending your life doesn’t put an end to the problem,” he said.

Even though you are the educated one, i feel confident starting a discussion about this.

To me, Dr Boonreung is only pointing out what the normal reaction to the majority is now-a-days, and that is to make sure you get a recording to increase your views on social media instead of taking into consideration the mental health of the person about to off themselves.

 

I truly don't think I'm exaggerating the above. It is a sad world that a doctor even has to broach a subject like this.

I have nothing but contempt for anyone who videos and then shares a suicide on social media. 

 

They are sad little *****. 

18 hours ago, stanleycoin said:

Kind of says it all , when you need to give this sort of advice to People. 

TIT.

No !  TIH, this is humanity. The world of humanity is a world of problems, self made problems. All problems can be solved with acceptance, 'it is as it is, I say yes to what is'. Life wasn't made to be easy. Those who record another's suffering are viewing their own suffering which they have under control, "Look! there is someone who has said no to what is"

18 hours ago, stanleycoin said:

Kind of says it all , when you need to give this sort of advice to People. 

TIT.

Like talking to children

Suicides should not be filmed or even mentioned in any media. 

 

When I was young there was a problem with young people committing suicide, and almost every time one did it a few followed within a few days. 

Media stopped reporting the deaths as suicide and called it a tragic event instead or didn't mention it at all, and the rate of suicides dropped drastically. 

 

5 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

I have nothing but contempt for anyone who videos and then shares a suicide on social media. 

 

They are sad little *****. 

It seems difficult to me not everyone to share your opinion.

6 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

I have nothing but contempt for anyone who videos and then shares a suicide on social media. 

 

They are sad little *****. 

You watch the news BS. I nearly cry watching Mums and Dads carrying their small children to hospital in places like Syria. Even closer to home was Manus Island run by the OZ Government. This is learnt behaviour. SAD BS.

,

Edited August 15, 20187 yr by Bluespunk

On 8/14/2018 at 2:31 PM, webfact said:

Ending your life doesn’t put an end to the problem,” he said.

Well I will argue that one,,, I would say Dead is Dead,,, dead people have no problems,,, I haven't seen a corps with to many problems.