[2592] in Depressing_Thoughts
Re: suicidal thoughts
kevles@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (kevles@ATHENA.MIT.EDU)
Tue Dec 10 15:21:37 1991
I have no personal experience in this, but if you are worried about
someone committing suicide, it seems that professional help is an
*excellent* idea.
HOWEVER. Don't send your friend to just anyone. Shop around! You
wouldn't invest in an expensive stock without making sure the company
was sound. By the same token, don't invest a friend's life in the hands
of a counsellor about whom you know nothing. (Nor should you use a
doctor for any serious work without finding out if s/he's a good
doctor.)
Not all counsellor's are good. But that's not a reason to write off the
entire idea.
So. Does anyone have any ideas about how to shop for a good source of
suicide prevention counselling? How about anyone who has, or who's
friend has had, a successful experience? I don't know anyone in need
right now, but I'd like to be prepared in the event that I DO need to
know such things.
