i know that this is a difficult subject because we have to so careful who gets involved, i realise that we could make these girls more vulneeable if we are not careful, would just like some feedback,is there anything we can do?

what a fantastic thread! i have a lot of young people reaching out to me and think it a great idea, we need some kind of community .x.x.xx

i think just being there for them, letting them have a voice is one of the best ways. i too have noticed in such a short time how very serious and traumatic their stories are. Keep being their and helping in anyway u can talking, listening, is the only way, but while their talking their not harmin thereselves, and u give them a chance of hope.

i suppose what i am asking is like what fallenangel has said,is there any way we can safely build a community to support each other so that we can stop ourselves from getting dragged down by it and then not let these girls down? Strange isnt it, i wonder where all the troubled young men are?

It is unfortunate that this kind of thing happens....a lot of minors that do not have the ability to get help on their own, wind up coming here for support.

All we can do is try to be supportive and help them the best way we can, to get the help they need.

I am more than willing to do that. I have successfully helped several people on here in the past.

Myself and mentalhealthadvocate are the two active members I know of who are equipped for crisis intervention.
I know there are others on here, but I am not sure who they are, or how active they have been lately.

Since this is not a crisis center, it is virtually impossible to expect there to be someone "on shift" at all times.

If you cannot provide any other support in a crisis, the best you can do is advise them to:

1) call 911
or
2) go to the nearest ER
or
3) call one of the hotline numbers from the "crisis hotlines" link in the blue area at the bottom of every DS page.

If they will not do that, try to get them to get help in some way.

There is only so much you can do on the internet.

There are plenty of young men in crisis too, but thanks to our "macho" culture, it is much more difficult for them to ask for it.

So when you do find a young man who asks for help, you better believe them.

i have a few troubled young men i talk to as well.

thanks starfish, i will note your name and your friends. I dont know whether I am equipped to deal with these young girls but what i have experienced is that suggesting calling the police or phoning the samaritans doesnt usually help, they need someone to talk to on here. Isnt your experience similar?

well like suggested at times of real need between us all with the time difference we can continue to talk to them into the early hrs if need be, as this seems to be the worse time for them. I agree that mention of 911 police etc seems to help little. set up a relay team and we all need to stay in touch with the same girls so that they get to know and trust us all, then it takes the weight off of individuals shoulders. xxx

thanks red wine! I think that all of us on here should make a note of each others names (if we all agree to it) and then we can between us -check each other out- you know what i mean by that, we have to be sure that each and every one of us is totally genuine and u can usually tell that by peoples friends and activity etc. and how long we have known them. I know that fallenangel is real and genuine because i have had a long phone conversation with her! try to keep this thread going so that people who come on later on dont miss it.

About boys, in britain the suicide rate for young men is the highest category, this is such a shame, it must be because they find it more difficult to talk.

yes that sounds good. afew of us do help each other out but the more support we can give to them and each other the better.

thanks fallenangel. anyone reading this thread, if you think either you or any of your friends might be interested in joining a support community, let ur friends know about this thread and ask them to comment please so that we can exchange names. thanks.

Everything you have all said is sound..just be there for them to chat,shout, rant what ever..listen and sometimes there is a way to help them. But please remember to look after your own mental and emotional help fist. Otherwise whoo will help these kids?!xxand on the subject of boys..l have quite a few asking for help. If they are asking for help..boy do they need it. It is hard for them to admit , in their eyes..they are weak. So..keep up the good work ladies.xx

you are a star toolbox. I think that it is precisely for that reason that i have started this thread. I know that I am not strong enough to take so much on sometimes and if i had a support network that i could rely on to join me and at some times take over it would make me feel less vulnerable myself.

*bounce*