[interlagos]

I'm thankful someone wrote this. I've been seeing a lot of people talking about how depressed and/or suicidal and inadequate they feel quite frequently around here lately.

Suicide is a topic that people sometimes "take on" in a hamfisted attempt at some cheap feel-goodism, and the results are almost always counter-productive.

You can't rationalize away suicide via a blog post. More likely it will actually bring to mind something that might not have been front and center.

Forgotten that you're suicidal? Well raganwald is here to remind you.

I may come off as a giant ass downer saying this, but it's the cold hard truth. This does the opposite of good.

[raganwald]

Debate about the benefits and hazards of posts like this is healthy. I'm choosing to leave it up, but I'm grateful that you are speaking up.

[baconner]

I think its true that you can't "rationalize away" suicidal thoughts but what you can do is provide an opportunity to recognize your or a loved one's extreme depression and start the process of getting help. That's how I read this post — as an attempt to provide an opportunity not a quick cure. For that IMO he ought to be commended.