Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: Alternatives to Suicide?

news.ycombinator.com

41–50 of 59 posts

Re: Ask HN: Alternatives to Suicide?

#41
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> please ASAP reach out to a professional. I am very sure such a hotline exists pretty close to you. Okay guys. Please. Stop suggesting professional mental healthcare as if it's something pretty much everyone has access to. In most US counties, therapy exists for those who can afford pricey insurance policies or can pay out of pocket - and that's it. Some hotlines are staffed with mental health pros. NSP Lifeline is…

This answer suffers from Americentrism. Practically every country in the world has some form of accessible mental health care. OP did not include their location, so why assume they are American? Yes, it is true if OP lives in America then the healthcare situation is a lot more difficult, but OP would already know that. These hotline answers are helpful for other readers who may also not live in America and may be una…

> Yes, it is true if OP lives in America then the healthcare situation is a lot more difficult, but OP would already know that.

Speaking of suffering observations. Why do you assume most people who live in areas without available mental healthcare are aware of that?

> Practically every country in the world has some form of accessible mental health care.

The language there qualifies any country with a therapist. I think what you meant is that the vast bulk of the population, in all 195 countries (excepting a handful), has reliable, practical access to mental healthcare.

As I consider African populations and folks who live in economically disadvantaged South and Central American nations I find myself filling with skepticism over that claim.

ref: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=state+of+mental+healthcare+in+Afri...

ref: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=state+of+mental+healthcare+in+Sout...

Re: Ask HN: Alternatives to Suicide?

#42
If you're seriously considering suicide, call the hotline linked in this thread.

The brain fog will lift. It'll take awhile. Working at a minimum-wage job is surprisingly fun compared to software. Of if you can't do that, there's disability. You'll be able to come back once the fog lifts.

Re: Ask HN: Alternatives to Suicide?

#43
Literally anything except violence. Ice cream, drugs, videogames, books, prostitutes, getting in shape. This seems like joking but really almost anything is better than dying when you don't need to.

The darkest times I've had what helped me was procrastinating anything that couldn't be undone, it's always an option later, and just knowing that I didn't have to make that choice today actually really helped.

But in your case if it's home life that's the problem and money that keeps you there, then step 1 is find a better paying job or adding a side hustle. Step 2 is to find a cheap place to live, probably a place that has like 8 roommates in a single house. Then once there pursue a skill-set that will let you significantly upgrade your economics, probably programming. Pursue fitness this whole time, because even if everything else in your life feels out of control you can at least control that one hour a day of working toward something, it will help.

But before any of that, find help, anyone, call someone, call a hot-line, see a shrink, reach out to an old friend or friendly relative.

I've been there before, keep going, it's worth it to keep going.

Re: Ask HN: Alternatives to Suicide?

#46
Last time I got depressed I spent a year couchsurfing communes across the east coast of the united states to get everyone to attend a political protest on wall street. Whatever you do you have to be as extreme as possible.

Re: Ask HN: Alternatives to Suicide?

#49

I have a very good friend who is struggling with mental health as well and his situation started to become worse since Covid-19. As others already commented, please ASAP reach out to a professional. I don't know where you live, but I am very sure such a hotline exists pretty close to you. My friend called such a hotline and he got help and he is better now. I know this is a huge step to take, but reaching out will he…

Thanks :)

Re: Ask HN: Alternatives to Suicide?

#50

I have a very good friend who is struggling with mental health as well and his situation started to become worse since Covid-19. As others already commented, please ASAP reach out to a professional. I don't know where you live, but I am very sure such a hotline exists pretty close to you. My friend called such a hotline and he got help and he is better now. I know this is a huge step to take, but reaching out will he…

I did the same (signed up), please talk to someone.

I appreciate that. I don’t really have friends. And my parents and I don’t get along. Sometimes I talk to anonymous people in the internet and it does help but not sure if it’s enough.
Post reply on HN