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The AlliΔnce π Cluster is missing a brother tonight, while we mourn the loss of one of our players, whom most of you knew as C3PO. He was one of our dedicated and long-term members. Yesterday evening he expressed a desire to end his life after a long struggle with depression, and in our time of greatest need, a diverse group of people from around the globe came together and worked most of the night to locate and try to get help to him when it was most needed. Unfortunately, we are deeply saddened to report that he had passed in the hours after his final message. Someone close to him reached out to us this evening and passed along the news. To the best of our ability, we have independently verified this information to be accurate.
There are few words that can express the depth of our gratitude towards the players, content creators, developers, and support staff that gave up their sleep on a holiday weekend to assist us. You all know who you are, and without you this community could not be what it is. Please take a moment to realize that every member of this community, no matter how vocal or quiet, is cared about by an incredibly deep community. If you’re hurting, or need someone to talk to, reach out. Help can be just an @ away.
“A true community is not just about being geographically close to someone or part of the same social web network. It’s about feeling connected and responsible for what happens. Humanity is our ultimate community, and everyone plays a crucial role.”
– Yehuda Berg
We would like to take this time to call attention to the larger issue at hand. The WHO reports that at least 350 million people worldwide suffer from depression, and two-thirds of all suicides in the United States are linked to the illness. No one should suffer alone. We all share a commonality, and in that we have the unique platform to affect change on a broader scale. Reach out to your guildmates, your friends and family, your coworkers and let them know that no one is alone in the world. One suicide is one too many.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (In the U.S.)
If you or someone you know is in crisis—whether they are considering suicide or not—please call the toll-free Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) to speak with a trained crisis counselor 24/7 or text NAMI to 741-741.
Kirkens SOS i Norge (Landssekretariatet)
Hotline: +47 815 33 300
Suicide Prevention Lifelines Abroad
http://www.suicidestop.com/call_a_hotline.html
Selvmord og selvmordstanker
https://helsenorge.no/sykdom/psykiske-lidelser/depresjon/selvmord-og-selvmordstanker
We would also like to pass along message from one of our members, who works as a psychiatrist when he’s not smashing the holotable.
“Many are afraid to talk about suicide with a depressed or suicidal person thinking that talking about suicide will drive them to do it. Nothing could be further from the truth. Suicide is all about being alone and silent, talking about it shows someone is listening and is there to help. Everyone who is thinking about suicide believes they are alone. They are not, the most important thing anyone can do to prevent suicide is to talk, the second is to listen and the third is to act.
Talk about suicide and how the pain they feel now can be relieved and shared. Many people feel suicide will end their pain. I've talked to many patients about suicide attempts and a common theme is they don't want to hurt anyone but themselves. Talking to them dispels that fallacy as you show your pain and grief.
Listen to their stories about how they came to this decision. Most have tried medications, therapy, drugs, ECT, TMS and family/friend interventions. Meds don't listen, too many therapists try to fix what is not broken and don't really listen, drugs make matters worse and while ECT is proven to reduce suicidality it is not readily available everywhere and has that stigma of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest attached. Listening, just listening and letting them talk may be more helpful than finding a solution at that moment. That leads us to...
Act. A simple touch to reassure them you are there can make a world of difference. Having a Crisis worker look in on them can too. In very severe cases, hospitalization may be needed. In the end, doing nothing accomplishes nothing.
If someone still kills themselves despite your interventions, it is natural to feel guilt but think if you did nothing and could have deterred him or her. That is a much worse fate. All we can ever do is try.”
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My own thoughts:
I'm no therapist but I promise you this:
I will listen.
I will care.
If you or someone you love needs help, please reach out
suicide.org
