https://www.reddit.com/r/modnews/comments/fdh4rr/announcing_our_partnership_and_ama_with_crisis/
created by jkohhey on 04/03/2020 at 18:15 UTC*
4052 upvotes, 170 top-level comments (showing 25)
***[Edit] This is now*** ***live***
Hi Mods,
As we all know, Reddit provides a home for an infinite number of people and communities. From awws and memes, to politics, fantasy leagues, and book clubs, people have created communities for just about everything. There are also entire communities dedicated solely to finding someone to talk to like r/KindVoice and r/CasualConversation. But it’s not all funny memes and gaming—as an anonymous platform, Reddit is also a space for people to express the most vulnerable parts of themselves.
People on Reddit find help in support communities that address a broad range of challenges from quitting smoking or drinking, struggling to get pregnant, or addressing abuse, anxiety, depression, or thoughts of suicide. Even communities that don’t directly relate to serious topics can get deep into serious issues, and the person you turn to in a time of need may be someone you bonded with over a game, a shared sense of humor, or the same taste in music.
When you see a post or comment about suicidal feelings in a community, it can be overwhelming. Especially if you’re a moderator in that community, and feel a sense of responsibility for both the people in your community and making sure it's the type of place you want it to be.
Here at Reddit, we’ve been working on finding a thoughtful approach to self-harm and suicide response that does a few key things:
1. Connects people considering suicide or serious self-harm with with trusted resources and real-time support that can help them as soon as possible.
2. Takes the pressure of responding to people considering suicide or serious self-harm off of moderators and redditors.
3. Continues to uphold our high standards for protecting and respecting user privacy and anonymity.
To help us with that new approach, today we’re announcing a partnership with Crisis Text Line[1] to provide redditors who may be considering serious self-harm or suicide with free, confidential, 24/7 support from trained Crisis Counselors.
1: https://www.crisistextline.org/
Crisis Text Line is a free, confidential, text-based support line for people in the U.S. who may be struggling with any type of mental health crisis. Their Crisis Counselors are trained to put people at ease and help them make a plan to stay safe. If you’d like to learn more about Crisis Text Line, they have a helpful summary video of their work[2] on their website and the complete story of how they were founded was covered in-depth in the New Yorker article, *R U There?*[3]
2: https://www.crisistextline.org/
3: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/02/09/r-u
Moving forward, when you’re worried about someone in your community, or anywhere on Reddit, you can let us know in two ways:
1. Report the specific post or comment that worried you and select, *Someone is considering suicide or serious self-harm.*
2. Visit the person’s profile and select, *Get them help and support.* (If you’re using Reddit on the web, click *More Options* first.)
We’ll reach out to tell the person a fellow redditor is worried about them and put them in touch with Crisis Text Line’s trained Crisis Counselors. Don’t worry, we’ll have some rate-limiting behind the scenes so people in crisis won’t get multiple messages in short succession, regardless of the amount of requests we receive. And because responding to someone who is considering suicide or serious self-harm can bring up hard emotions or may be triggering, Crisis Text Line is also available to people who are reporting someone. This new flow will be launching next week.
Here’s what it will look like:
​
As part of our partnership, we’re hosting a joint AMA between Reddit’s group product manager of safety u/jkohhey and Crisis Text Line’s Co-Founder & Chief Data Scientist, Bob Filbin u/Crisis_Text_Line, to answer questions about their approach to online suicide response, how the partnership will work, and what this all means for you and your communities.
Here’s a little bit more about Bob:As Co-Founder & Chief Data Scientist of Crisis Text Line, Bob leads all things data including developing new avenues of data collection, storing data in a way that makes it universally accessible, and leading the Data, Ethics, and Research Advisory Board. Bob has given keynote lectures on using data to drive action at the YMCA National CIOs Conference, American Association of Suicidology Conference, MIT Solve, and SXSW. While he is not permitted to share the details, Bob is occasionally tapped by the FBI to provide insight in data science, AI, ethics, and trends. Bob graduated from Colgate University and has an MA in Quantitative Methods from Columbia.
​
Comment by Halaku at 04/03/2020 at 18:20 UTC
112 upvotes, 5 direct replies
This is a pretty awesome thing. Thank you for doing it.
Don’t worry, we’ll have some rate-limiting behind the scenes so people in crisis won’t get multiple messages in short succession, regardless of the amount of requests we receive.
Thank you for doing *this*, too.
The last thing anyone wants is for toxic users / subreddits to use this as a brigading tool.
Comment by [deleted] at 04/03/2020 at 18:19 UTC
147 upvotes, 7 direct replies
[deleted]
Comment by svc518 at 04/03/2020 at 18:45 UTC
21 upvotes, 1 direct replies
What will you be doing in cases where this functionality is used in bad faith? e.g. someone using this functionality just to annoy or troll another user, who has not indicated they're considering suicide or self-harm?
Comment by KingVape at 05/03/2020 at 00:21 UTC
18 upvotes, 3 direct replies
Thanks guys, now I'm wary of talking about being suicidal on here, lest my comments get reported.
Comment by tizorres at 04/03/2020 at 18:24 UTC
45 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Big ups to reaching out to mods from various help and talk subreddits to get some feedback.
Comment by techiesgoboom at 04/03/2020 at 19:00 UTC
53 upvotes, 3 direct replies
As a mod who was highly frustrated with the current system of putting it 100% in our hands I was highly skeptical that there would be an actual solution to this. But I’m happy to say I was totally proven wrong, because this is absolutely fantastic! It doesn’t assign us extra responsibilities we aren’t qualified for but there’s still an immediate response when it’s needed. It’s a win-win-win.
Thanks for putting this process in place! I’m really excited for it.
Comment by rbevans at 04/03/2020 at 18:43 UTC
45 upvotes, 2 direct replies
This is really great especially for us over in /r/Military where suicides in the overall military community is an issue.
I feel like I have to ask, but what steps if any are to prevent users from abusing this feature?
Comment by shiruken at 04/03/2020 at 18:40 UTC*
12 upvotes, 4 direct replies
Finally! This looks like a great solution to a long-unresolved problem on the website. Well done!
Is this a feature that will be accessible through nu Modmail? Or will we need to go to a specific comment/post or their profile to initiate the process?
More generally, how does liability work in a situation like this? We were hesitant about implementing anything in r/science ourselves because we didn't want to put our clinicians at risk.
Comment by IncendiaNex at 04/03/2020 at 19:52 UTC*
13 upvotes, 2 direct replies
^(First of all, I think this is a fantastic idea with an overall net good for the community. That in mind there is a common troll to say things like *"feel better"* or *"get therapy"* under low vote comments. I'd like to know how you'll prevent this type of abuse evolving to use this system. Also, will there be an opt-out?)
Comment by Vipassana1 at 04/03/2020 at 20:04 UTC
15 upvotes, 2 direct replies
This seems like a pretty great thing, thank you. I have one concern, though it may just be paranoia. Are you collecting any data from this new feature? Like, will there end up being a list of people that needed help that you guys keep?
In this world of information exploitation, this seems like a question worth asking. Thanks again.
Comment by DMinus23 at 04/03/2020 at 20:12 UTC
11 upvotes, 1 direct replies
This is going to be used sarcastically more than you think lol
Comment by Timoris at 05/03/2020 at 02:21 UTC*
12 upvotes, 2 direct replies
This is absolutely ridiculous and stupid.
Sort by controversial to see responces by actual depressed and suicidal people.
You're only helping yourselves feel better , not the person.
I actually just wrote whu and how yesterday
https://www.reddit.com/r/SuicideWatch/comments/fd8his/i_hate_those_damn_ubiquitous_suicide_hotline/
Congratulations, you just made reddit a less scure place for me to express my feelings npw that I'll be wondering if I am going to punished for it.
Congratulations fuckwits - in the past month you BANNED suicide subs that people went to to vent and feel secure with people who understood them.
Comment by jippiejee at 04/03/2020 at 18:23 UTC
21 upvotes, 3 direct replies
What happens if that user is not in the US?
Comment by HockeyPockey603 at 04/03/2020 at 19:27 UTC
11 upvotes, 2 direct replies
People will inevitably use this feature to spam those who post something they don't like. Is there any plan in place right now to prevent the abuse of this feature? Or will there be consequences for those using this feature for malicious purposes?
Is there an option to opt out of receiving these messages should someone falsely claim you need help?
Comment by any_old_usernam at 04/03/2020 at 19:28 UTC
10 upvotes, 1 direct replies
When you flag the post/comment, could that lead to it being deleted? There's a distinct possibility that if it does, that will make it worse, especially if it's a community like r/depression. If it were me I'd feel like nobody cared about how I felt, even if that wasn't the intention. Assuming it's just at the mods' discretion, in which case that's good.
Comment by [deleted] at 04/03/2020 at 20:21 UTC*
11 upvotes, 3 direct replies
[deleted]
Comment by jkohhey at 12/03/2020 at 19:56 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Thank you to everyone who has chimed in on this post! We’ve taken time to read through the comments after the AMA and, based on feedback, we’re prioritizing building a resource message opt-out in addition to the strict abuse prevention measures in place. We’ll also be watching how it’s used carefully and will continue to seek feedback from all of you.
Comment by TranZeitgeist at 04/03/2020 at 19:55 UTC
10 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Hmm.
My innocuous question, since we have a data scientist here, is what does user satisfaction and engagement data collection look like in your process, and how will that be used specific to improving the experience for Redditors.
And secondly, do you offer, or would you consider offering scheduled follow-up similar to ASSIP[1] or Caring Contacts[2] ?
1: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02505373
2: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02825771
Comment by [deleted] at 04/03/2020 at 21:30 UTC
10 upvotes, 1 direct replies
So, if you’re not in the US, you get alerts you can’t turn off that don’t offer help? That feels like salt in the wound. I came to reddit to seek out help and now I’m getting messages telling me to take that talk to someone else that I have to go find. I did. I found Reddit.
Comment by srjs7 at 04/03/2020 at 18:39 UTC
9 upvotes, 2 direct replies
What percent of CCs complete their 200 hour commitment (and don't decide it's not for them)?
Comment by kittycatblues at 04/03/2020 at 19:05 UTC
10 upvotes, 2 direct replies
What do the mods of r/SuicideWatch think if this? That sub has a lot of people thinking about suicide in it, but also a no activism stance.
Comment by DesperateDem at 04/03/2020 at 19:17 UTC
9 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Just wanted to say, I'm really glad to see this, so good job. I'm sure it will need a bit of tweaking, and there will be some who will try to abuse it, but really, thanks for this.
Comment by therealdarkcirc at 04/03/2020 at 19:19 UTC
10 upvotes, 0 direct replies
/r/AskDocs rejoices.
This is a great idea.
Comment by Timoris at 05/03/2020 at 02:22 UTC
11 upvotes, 1 direct replies
People need to realise and understand just how much bullshit suicide prevention is.
Because Yes, lets put posters to the suicide hotline a bit everywhere, look, we're only helping!
The suicide hotline! yes ! of course! why didn't I think of that?
All those things are there to make other people happy and fool them into thinking "They're doing a great job helping!"
You're really not.
How about this one? Force them to seek counselling
Ah yes! Because talking about how I feel is going to make my problems go away! Of course
Well, you'll get tools to /cope/ with those things, see -
Oh! but it won't resolve any of the underlying issues, I see, you're only treating the symptoms of flesh eating disease.
Institutionalisation?
Well, how about fuck you Sheryl. Because isolating me even more really is going to help.
But YOU can rest assured that /you did everything you could/! Look! the problem is no longer visible to you! So therefore it must be working!
Pat yourself on the shoulder, you did a great job!
That person surely isn't going to fold into themselves even more than they already have as they just sit around looking at blank walls, waiting for there next therapy session with doctors that are too rushed
or overworked to care or do any good.
It's like facing the corner for "adults". Think nice and hard about what you did! See you in three weeks!
Well, how about numbing him AND therapy?
Listen Maribeth, why do you think that's going to work? Because there's an entire industry around it?
That must mean it HAS to be successful! Everyone! Everytime! Guaranteed!
Surely it can ONLY /help/ those poor depressed souls, because the good doctor and the books say that it works Surely their one follow-up call to re-make an appointment will change everything when they failed to show up
Well, they didn't want to be here, on to someone that actually WANTS to be helped
And the cycle... continues
Surely taking pills to numb me to force me to sit in emotional comatose will
Cure me of my autoimmune disease that will end me prematurally anyways
Find me nice stable jobs that can work around my frequent and random stays at the hospital
Stop jobs from firing me for invalid reasons because of it
And extinguish an innumerable amount of very real fires in my life that set me down this path in the first place
1.
Morris Moss: *picks up flaming fire extinguisher* I'll just put this over here... with the rest of the fire.[1]
2.
Cartoon Dog sitting at a table will the entire room is on fire. Close-up on his smiling face "This is fine."[2]
can't people see why it doesn't work? why I push people away
Even though I really really REALLY don't want to
And it only hurts me even more
permanently scaring the relationships that matter most to me
never able to go back to how things were before
inevitably helping me push myself to take the final jump
when there is no one left around me
when they all finally shut me out
and none of them bother to reach out or care anymore
or know that I finally jumped
I feel stuck, Like an atom stuck on a plateau, trying to Fuse
the only way to unlock my potential energy would be through quantum tunneling
But you need to put outside energy in the system for it to work
The only power that does work, is a firm grasping hand from ones we love the most,
holding on with all their might despite the weight trying to sink ever deeper
And the mightiest of tugs, going through that hill
Holding on, as hard as they can, as they careen down the quantum waterfall in a burst of energy
Not some stupid fucking poster.
and then what?
They leave.
They always leave.
And you're alone again.
Comment by SorcZerker at 05/03/2020 at 04:01 UTC*
10 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Wow a new fucking way to SWAT people. /r/thanksihateit. You aren't hiring a team to monitor reports, too much $$. You're going to use some shitty keyword algorithm, send it to idiot police who aren't going to read it, and some innocent person is going to get murdered "for The LulZ" from a harassing troll.
"Oh but its a crisis line monitoring...."
STFU. They are just there to keep you distracted while the police are on their way to your house. People who have never dealt with people who have these issues have **no idea** how dangerous this is.
