r/depression • • Oct 29 '19

Our most-broken and least-understood rules is "helpers may not invite private contact as a first resort", so we've made a new wiki to explain it

2.4k Upvotes

We understand that most people who reply immediately to an OP with an invitation to talk privately mean only to help, but this type of response usually leads to either disappointment or disaster. it usually works out quite differently here than when you say "PM me anytime" in a casual social context.

We have huge admiration and appreciation for the goodwill and good citizenship of so many of you who support others here and flag inappropriate content - even more so because we know that so many of you are struggling yourselves. We're hard at work behind the scenes on more information and resources to make it easier to give and get quality help here - this is just a small start.

Our new wiki page explains in detail why it's much better to respond in public comments, at least until you've gotten to know someone. It will be maintained at /r/depression/wiki/private_contact, and the full text of the current version is below.


Summary

Anyone who, while acting as a helper, invites or accepts private contact (I.e. PMs, chat, or any kind of offsite communication) early in the conversion is showing either bad intentions or bad judgement. Either way, it's unwise to trust them.

"PM me anytime" seems like a kind and generous offer. And it might be perfectly well-meaning, but, unless and until a solid rapport has been established, it's just not a wise idea. Here are some points to consider before you offer or accept an invitation to communicate privately.

  • By posting supportive replies publicly, you'll help more people than just the OP. If your responses are of good quality, you'll educate and inspire other helpers. The 1-9-90 rule applies here as much as it does anywhere else on the internet.

  • People who are struggling with serious mental-health issues often (justifiably) have a low tolerance for disappointment and a high-level of ever-changing emotional need. Unless the helper is able to make a 100% commitment to be there for them in every way, for as long as necessary, offering a personal inbox as a resource is likely to do more harm than good. This is why mental-health crisis-line responders usually don't give their names and callers aren't allowed to request specific responders. It's much healthier and safer for the callers to develop a relationship with the agency as a whole. Analogously, it's much safer and healthier for our OPs to develop a relationship with the community as a whole. Even trained responders are generally not allowed to work high-intensity situations alone. It's partly about availability, but it's mostly about wider perspective and preventing compassion fatigue.

  • If a helper gets in over their head with someone whose mental-health issues (including suicidality, which is often comorbid with depression) escalate, in a PM conversation it's much harder for others, including the /r/depression and /r/SuicideWatch moderators to help. (Contrary to common assumptions, moderators can't see or police PMs.)

  • In our observation over many years, the people who say "PM me" the most are consistently the ones with the least understanding of mental-health issues and mental-health support. We all have gaps in our knowledge and in our ability to communicate effectively. Community input mitigates these limitations. There's no reason why someone who's truly here to help would want to hide their responses from community scrutiny. If helpers are concerned about their own privacy, keep in mind that self-disclosure, when used supportively, is more about the feelings than the details, and that we have no problem here with the use of alt/throwaway accounts, and have no restrictions on account age or karma.

  • We all know the internet is used by some people to exploit or abuse others. These people do want to hide their deceptive and manipulative responses from everyone except their victims. There are many of them who specifically target those who are vulnerable because of mental-health issues. If a helper invites an OP to talk privately and gives them a good, supportive experience, they've primed that person to be more vulnerable to abusers. This sort of cognitive priming tends to be particularly effective when someone's in a state of mental-health crisis, when people rely more on heuristics than critical reasoning.

  • If OPs want to talk privately, posting on a wide-open anonymous forum like reddit might not be the best option. Although we don't recommend it, we do allow OPs to request private contact when asking for support. If you want to do this, please keep your expectations realistic, and to have a careful look at the history of anyone who offers to PM before opening up to them.


r/depression • • May 18 '26

Check-In post, with essential info about our policies and resources. Most people are surprised by much of this information, please read carefully before posting or commenting

18 Upvotes

Welcome to /r/depression's check-in post - a place to take a moment and share what is going on and how you are doing. If you're having a tough time but prefer not to make your own post, or have an accomplishment you want to talk about (these aren't allowed standalone posts in the sub as they violate the "role model" rule), this is a place you can share.


Our subreddit rules are very different from most of the rest of reddit! Since all of them exist for important reasons, we ask everyone here to read and follow them. Please click 'report' on any harmful content you see here - we always want to know and deal as soon as we can.

We also have several resource wikis for help with finding and giving support:

https://www.reddit.com/r/depression/wiki/what_is_depression provides guidance about what is and isn't a depressive disorder, guidance on the complex nature of the illnesses that are usually grouped under the "depression" label, and redirect information for common off-topic issues.

https://www.reddit.com/r/depression/wiki/giving_help offers information on the nature and value of peer support for mental-health issues in general, and lots of guidance for learning what is -- and isn't -- usually helpful in giving peer support.

YSK that the types of rule violations that we most frequently see here are:

  • People breaking the private contact rule. You should never trust anyone who tries to get you into a private conversation in response to a post here. See https://www.reddit.com/r/depression/wiki/private_contact

  • "I'm here to help" posts. This shows that you don't understand the most basic principles of peer support, especially selectivity. The "giving help" wiki explains more about this.

  • Role modelling, i.e. "achievement" or "advice" posts. This is an expert-free zone -- that's what peer support means (rule 5). We know that "internet culture" celebrate not just bragging about your achievements but bragging about your intentions. Neither is ever acceptable here in any form.

  • Content that's more about 'making a statement' or casually polling the sub than seeking personal support (rules 1, 2 and 10).

  • Off-topic posts about difficult situations, including interpersonal issues. Grief, sadness, anger, loneliness and other difficult emotions are not mental illnesses. Feelings that can be explained by person's circumstances are perfectly healthy no matter how painful they are. A depressive disorder only exists when someone's mood is out of synch with what's going on for them. The "what is depression" wiki linked above has suggestions for other places to post about these issues, which are 100% valid and serious but do NOT belong here.


r/depression • • 4h ago

13 failed suicide attempts in the past month

36 Upvotes

I dont know what I'm doing, maybe I'm not trying hard enough. Since my last post on this subreddit I've gotten so much worse. I'm almost 100% sure that I had a seizure at some point due to overdoses. I'm a young teenager and I've tried to kill myself 15 times. I'm so tired, my body is worn and my heart cannot take it anymore.


r/depression • • 7h ago

Begging god to end my life everyday

36 Upvotes

Please end my life universe. Why did you create me? I been depressed for 10-15 years. I have no friends, no partner and been stuck for years. Please end my life God


r/depression • • 10h ago

My dad attempted to kill himself again

41 Upvotes

The first time was about a year and a bit ago were he went missing and we had to find him it was so traumatising but I thought we turned a corner and I got help,

This time however was so fuckinh horrible I walked in on him overdoing there was goodbye letters to me and my sisters he was so out his face on the drugs he was going crazy that’s not my dad there was a empty bottle of vodka and he dosnt even drink he planned it he woke up and was annoyed at us for saving his life he said that he was meant to die he still wants to die he’s in a unit right now but I am truly heartbroken I feel so numb and and weak I took a photo of the letter o keep reading every time I’m in silent or shut my eyes I replay the whole night and just imaging him sitting there writing the letters and how much pain he must be in I have two sisters I’m closer to one but they have there kids I sort of just life with my mum who isn’t with my dad I just feel truly shattered I feel like nothing is gonna help him I feel like I’ve came to terms with the fact I’m gonna lose my dad and I’m just waiting for it to happen.


r/depression • • 2h ago

My biggest dream is that once I am gone, there will be no afterlife for me

8 Upvotes

Just like what the title says, I hope that once I stop breathing I will also stop existing. No more what few happiness and pleasure I could feel, but also no more pain, no more sadness, no more suffering, no more overthinking, no more stupid ideas.


r/depression • • 19h ago

If you talk about killing yourself, you're just looking for attention

164 Upvotes

A sentiment I heard spoken by someone in my family after we all lost someone close to us.

You can absolutely discuss the topic generally OR personally and mean it. There's no rule that says speaking about it before committing to it means youre lying..

How could you, as someone who has not been in rehab or therapy nearly as many times as that person, try to claim to know how they felt better than them?

How can you see their struggles, medications theyre on, addictions, self harm, self isolation, and still see their attempts to reach out for help as some sort of grab for attention?

Bye. Your an adult. They're dead. And youre still trying to push the notion that calling out for help before actually attempting means your fishing? Pick me stupid ass bitch.

I still think about that sometimes and can't fathom ever believing what she believes.


r/depression • • 9h ago

wrote a su1cde note and attempted today

23 Upvotes

I don’t know if I’m allowed to mention it on this community, but I just wanna vent how exhausted I am.
I used to practice how to hang myself just so that I can make sure when the day comes, I’ll be dead.
I was determined this time after an argument with a family. I couldn’t take it anymore. I don’t know where I belong or where to put myself. I wish I have the capability to do things I thought I would be doing by now. But I know to myself that I really tried to live. I tried to make excuses just so I wouldn’t have to hang myself again. Today I had a panic attack and took pills. I wanted to finally finish this pain and also so that I can stop being a burden. Besides, my dad doesn’t care if I live or die. I always feel invincible and hidden like a shadow. No one is curious about me.
I am stupid.
I almost died today actually but the rope slipped and I couldn’t pass out. I wish God would just take me. I’m begging for him to take me.


r/depression • • 7h ago

Feel so down and lonely

13 Upvotes

another night crying to myself and thinking about just ending my life. I hate in earth, I hate our society and I hate myself. Nothing ever better, it only gets worst.


r/depression • • 6h ago

Failed suicide attempt

10 Upvotes

So I had a failed suicide attempt recently. I tried overdosing on hydroxyzine. My partner called 911 and the worst fire department came to my house. I’m a young adult and the entire thing just feels humiliating and shameful.

My partner was so worried about me and stayed by my side the entire time. But the thing is, I still don’t have much motivation to live. During the time I was out of it, it felt like a warm hug, an embrace that I had been longing for my entire life. I was out of it and had time to just sit with my thoughts.

I didn’t feel regret unlike many other stories. The only thing I felt bad for wasn’t for me, it was for the people around me. My partner who has endured my fanatic behavior, my therapist suspect I have borderline personality. I’m unsure, I have adhd and autism diagnosis.

I attempted three days ago. My partner has not left my side since and has been restless. Im just unsure where to go from here. The hospital was not any help, I’ve had these feelings for as long as I can remember. I have no motivation to do anything.

As well as the chronic sickness/pain I live in without knowing the underlying problem isn’t helping. I’ve been eating so much sugar from just how down I feel. I’m so extremely lost in my life. How do I really get out of it?


r/depression • • 12h ago

"They seemed so happy" is just cope

27 Upvotes

I'm starting to realize the whole "gosh I had no idea they always seemed ok" is more about society unable to cope. Sure, there are plenty of people who seem happy before comitting suicide but for every one of those I wager there's 10 others who don't seem fine at all.

I've had plenty of people abandon me in my life. Even my own mother. It's basicically why I don't bother making any friends anymore. Not real ones. And so all those aquaintances may very well look back one day and say "gosh I never saw it coming" if and when they hear about me.

It's a viscious cycle. If you don't put on a mask, people will abandon you. They abandon you, you keep people at a distance. You keep them at a distance, and they don't know you. They don't know you, and they never saw it coming.

But more importantly it's for society as a whole. They get to grieve and pretend like they would have done something if only they had known; it's a much better version than abandoning someone because they couldnt deal with someone who was depressed.


r/depression • • 3h ago

I hate feeling hopeless

5 Upvotes

usually I can look forward to things but lately no nothing like what good can happen anytime. everything just feels like it’s going down like there isn’t much hope with anything or anyone anymore. what the point of keep getting up doing the same thing over and over again? for what only to be let down again I don’t know I’m just overwhelmed I do all the things try to be grateful journal go for a walk get in nature but it just feels like why??? i usually see the brighter side of things but lately no.


r/depression • • 2h ago

Wasted 20s I hate myself

3 Upvotes

Never had any human experiences that everyone should have. I hate my cowardice. I should end it. I sometimes drive into the direction of oncoming traffic to feel something.


r/depression • • 7h ago

This isn't how my life was supposed to turn out...

8 Upvotes

I never in my life imagined I would be considering suicide as a way to solve my problems. In my mind, it's the only way that will work.

I never learned how to live. Everything has always felt overwhelming, so I hid from the world and ignored my growing problems, even though I knew where it would lead. I avoided people as much as I could, and I've even lost touch with my own family. Throughout my entire adult life, I've kept telling myself that I'd be able to change. I'm so tired of living like this.

I'm almost 40 now, and over the past year, I've lost what little hope I had left. Because I'm not doing anything at all, even the things I could barely manage before have become too much for me. Ignoring problems comes at a price. I have so many of them now that there's no point in even listing them.

I just don't have the strength anymore to keep simply "existing". I know I've lost.


r/depression • • 51m ago

I wanna kms

• Upvotes

Bro imma just be honest. Im a 28 year old black man in America. I've struggled with depression since I was 11 years old and have attempted suicide multiple times. Idk what set it off but this year (at the beginning) I told myself and declared that I would try my hardest to chase my dreams of being a YouTuber and Musician. I've really pushed myself to network and make new friends. Aside from that I've put myself back into the dating pool. I haven't dated in 10 years so I felt like it was time to take my chances again. Oh boy I was wrong. I feel like I never want to date anyone ever anymore with the way I get shot down. I do all the things, I'm courteous, I open doors, I text to make sure you get home safe, I genuinely just want a partner to share life with but our generation is so COOKED. To me it feels like women don't actually want a relationship let alone get married anymore. I say all this to say Im at my wits end. The last lady I was talking to made it apparent that all they wanted me for was for money and buying her drinks. I genuinely am so tired of being alive. Im broke and in debt. I feel like I'm not good enough. Im almost 30 and I don't have anything to show for it. Idk why I thought "oh ya you're ready to get back out there" I just wanna not exist anymore. Love is only for movies, books and anime that shit isn't real. Please prove me wrong. Pray for me that I don't kms. At the very least just know that you're loved and I care.

-Claudio


r/depression • • 2h ago

I haven’t been told goodnight in so long

4 Upvotes

I was an over thinker, but never wrong. I overthink about school and worry about getting bullied. I overthink about people leaving me, I overthink about my parents. But I’m never wrong In what I think. The most I get is a notification from my settings. No one tells me goodnight anymore. I spend current few and final days listening to music, and thinking about what happened in my life. In heaven, everything is fine right?


r/depression • • 1h ago

Hi, I'm a 22-year-old young man and I live with an OCD disorder, a fairly uncommon one, especially at the stage I'm at.

• Upvotes

This disorder really started when I was 11. It wasn't as violent as it is now, but it was enough to give me panic attacks and make me scream in fear throughout the house.

This disorder mainly prevented me from doing sports. So we found a way to get me exempted from PE.

From ages 11 to 21 it was rather stable, I managed to learn to live with it, but since last year and especially starting a few days ago it has taken another form, it's more violent. I can no longer drive, I can no longer do much of anything really. And there are lots of other even more bothersome things that I'd rather not go into, because talking about them makes me anxious. This thing is a real nightmare, it's the worst thing I've ever felt. It's destroying me from the inside. It went from a simple OCD to something that concretely affects my physical health.

It's not just an irrational obsessive thought like the others, it's an awareness of something that I should never have become aware of, and the anxiety pushed me to overanalyze the thing, which created connections with other things, which worsened the problem over time. I know this is incomprehensible to you, but I'm doing my best.

I associate this disorder with the Devil because it's powerful enough to paralyze you in every aspect of your life, while being impossible to make others understand, while being invisible.

If there are people going through the same thing, you can reach out, so I feel less alone even though I know this disorder is extremely rare.


r/depression • • 1h ago

Someone can help me?

• Upvotes

I have struggled with depression since I was a child, but now that I have reached adulthood, it has hit me much harder. All I can think about is hurting myself and leaving this life behind. I truly have no one to turn to for help, and I have never had any friends. I hurt the only person who ever cared for me, and they told me they never wanted to see me again. I have been alone my entire life—I was bullied from a young age and excluded from everything. I have tried to seek help, but nothing seems to work. I am exhausted, and all I can think about is leaving this world. I can no longer sleep at night because I am constantly dwelling on the mistakes I have made. I would be grateful for any advice—anything that might help me to keep going.


r/depression • • 8h ago

It just seems logical for me to die

11 Upvotes

I feel no satisfaction doing anything. I am late diagnost ADHD. I have no friends, no family, and no hope for a future. I was able to graduate but never hold down a steady jobs. Work place politics makes me want to pop out my eyeballs and swallow them. This makes my "attitude" the only relevant thing discussed. I broke my foot and have been in my room for 6 months. 1 person visited then moved away. After years and years of trying, I am now in my late 20s. After healing, I have no prospects in life whatsoever. When I can do things, I do them well. But then it stops....I am unable to accomplish any task and then I cannot get myself to do the simplest things. I cannot even get myself to turn on a video game. When I walk outside, it feels like hyenas are stalking me, waiting on me to slip up or die. My social interactions feel like hostage situations bc I have enough pattern recognition to recognize that I will mess up. I am in debt. People dont like to be around me bc i cannot navigate social situations correctly. I have no family that cares (my brother died of suicide and I see how little everyone treated him before and after too). There just doesnt seem to be any other way then to suffer in shame and then die now or later 💔


r/depression • • 1h ago

Planning the end did something unexpected

3 Upvotes

I decided a week ago when and how I was gonna do it. So I prepared alot of aspects in my life in order for the burden of my passing to not be so complicated for my family. House, dog, furniture etc.

Well that expiration date came and went and im still here. Im still depressed and ruminate alot but that overwhelming heaviness isnt as heavy anymore.

I cant really share this feeling with anyone in my life w.om them freaking out. But I just thought i'd share here. Im unmedicated and basically a NEET when I have tons of resources for income. Maybe I can get over feeling worthless and do something for myself.

I haven't given anything away, I'm not happier, maybe im displaying relief that I decided to end things. But I'm still here I guess.


r/depression • • 11h ago

I’m a few months off Sertraline and fear I’ll never be happy again.

15 Upvotes

I was taking 100mg for idk 2-3 years. Personally, my life is great so a few months ago I decided I wanted to ween off. I wanted to not be dependent on this drug. Over the course of 6-8 weeks I dropped my dose. I made it through the terrible sleep, the stomach issues, the brain zaps. But now, it’s anhedonia all the damn time.

I look around at this sick fucking world we’re stuck in and I don’t know how the hell im supposed to wake up every morning and carry on. I have a sweet old dog to take care of and a wonderful, supportive partner I want to be here for, so I’m not going out anytime soon. But I think about it all the time. How I don’t want to live in this world and how I can barely find any joy in the things that usually keep me going.(reading, writing, games, nature)

My passion is gone, my libido is buried. My soul feels poisoned. I’m doing the work outs. I’m writing. I’m hanging with friends. I’m doing the things that should help me feel alive. But it’s fucking hard to maintain and I want to be a light for the people in my life. Not this heavy burden that pulls them down.

Please, someone tell me there is a light at the end of this. I want to hear from people who have taken meds and come off of them. Have you managed to reclaim your brain and your emotions?


r/depression • • 3h ago

28 crying alone in my room in the dark.

3 Upvotes

I’m in an awful 10 year “relationship” where my ex who I still live with cheated on me and struggles with alcoholism. Stuck in a lease for a year that I shouldn’t have even renewed, but it felt better than having to rent a room with a stranger. He wants to work on it and I’m beyond hurt and betrayed. I have no friends except one I’m really not close to anymore. My family has their own lives everyone is independent and doesn’t care to ask how others are doing. My work is a basic desk job but emotionally draining. I have extreme social anxiety and the only place I go to is the gym, and I haven’t been able to get myself to go in 2 weeks now. I’m so miserable. Grown enough to say no one is coming to save me but I wish someone would. To have someone truly there for me is all I have ever wanted.


r/depression • • 6h ago

It isn't life that's the problem.

6 Upvotes

It's this affliction. It's ruining my life and that's the problem. I don't want to die because I don't want to live. I want to die because living in this state is too much to bear. I want to die because I can't handle watching so much life go to waste anymore. I want to love life. And I can't. That's the problem.


r/depression • • 2h ago

Acceptance?

3 Upvotes

Is the only way to deal with it all to just accept it? How do you accept it during the worst