Fighting Suicide: The Internet or should we say The Supernet

According to A. Kathryn Power, M.Ed., “This new venture is helping us provide suicide prevention information to young people in an online space where they feel comfortable. Our MySpace page gives people an easily accessible link to important information about suicide prevention.”

http://www.samhsa.gov/SAMHSA_NEWS/VolumeXV_4/article7.htm

Many people use the internet for blogging, emailing, and social networking everyday. However, several people also use the internet for a different type of social networking, emotional and suicidal outreach. Emotional and suicide support groups are become more and more popular on the internet. I believe the popularity of these support groups are growing due to the concealment of identity. A person seeking emotional aid can log on to support sites, without having to provide age, sex, or other identity characteristics. This may provide the person seeking support with a greater feeling of safety. Through the use of forums emotionally challenged people can discuss issues with support volunteers. In addition, the forums provide a scene for discussion between emotionally challenged people themselves. Perhaps forums discussions of this nature will help others on the internet see that they are not alone with their problems and feelings.

John Barber