Un believeable
"I am feeling suicidal right now" - this was the facebook update of a guy I know, let's call him Pete, he works here at Uni - we're not real life friends, more what I'd call acquaintances, we say hi 4 or 5 times a year maybe. But - what do you do with an update like that?
I know a good friend of his, John, so rang him. Yes, Pete is severely depressed and he had spent last night talking with him, but John's literally walking through the door into a big meeting.... He promised to ring Pete, gave me Pete's number, and another friend's number too, a psychologist, Bob. So I ring Pete, he's crying, at work, doesn't want me to come and see him - more messages back and forth with John, Bob etc.
Suicide is serious - my Dept Head works in this area, so I go and see her, she says "Go and see him if you can" - so i try to, with another colleague who does student welfare, but can't find him.
Long story short, John gets away from his meeting, and goes to find Pete - I manage to arrange emergency counselling through the Uni thanks to my colleague who knows the head of counselling - and that's where he is now, John picked him up and took him there.
All from a facebook update. I feel like I need a good stiff drink.
But such a strange way for things to unfold - all from a fb update.
I am frazzled, but I think what I did helped.
But you know what bugs me a bit - I looked at his fb update again about 20 minutes after first seeing it and getting things going, and people were saying things like "Big warm hugs' "Love you" as if that is going to make any fucking difference!
If someone says "suicide", you don't send them hugs!
I know a good friend of his, John, so rang him. Yes, Pete is severely depressed and he had spent last night talking with him, but John's literally walking through the door into a big meeting.... He promised to ring Pete, gave me Pete's number, and another friend's number too, a psychologist, Bob. So I ring Pete, he's crying, at work, doesn't want me to come and see him - more messages back and forth with John, Bob etc.
Suicide is serious - my Dept Head works in this area, so I go and see her, she says "Go and see him if you can" - so i try to, with another colleague who does student welfare, but can't find him.
Long story short, John gets away from his meeting, and goes to find Pete - I manage to arrange emergency counselling through the Uni thanks to my colleague who knows the head of counselling - and that's where he is now, John picked him up and took him there.
All from a facebook update. I feel like I need a good stiff drink.
But such a strange way for things to unfold - all from a fb update.
I am frazzled, but I think what I did helped.
But you know what bugs me a bit - I looked at his fb update again about 20 minutes after first seeing it and getting things going, and people were saying things like "Big warm hugs' "Love you" as if that is going to make any fucking difference!
If someone says "suicide", you don't send them hugs!