Suicide Help Websites

I started to have a look at some help websites, most were to prevent suicide but were not aimed at the suicidal person themselves, but to a friend or family member. I started to look at the colours and themes that they used for their backgrounds , to either aim them at youth or adults.


I have found some of the websites use muted, calming colours such as pale blues and greens. This is obviously because of the state of mine that these people are in, they might be quite on edge and (although it sounds irrational) be set off by anything, including a brightly colour, flashing, animated web page.


The websites all have inspiring quotes and statements such as “Suicide is not chosen; it happens when pain exceeds resources for coping with pain.” and "Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore." The websites are there to provide hope and advice in these peoples most desperate time of need. They need to appear caring.

If we are going to show words from the screen of the computor then will will need to think very carefully about how our website will be designed and what kind of things we will say. Ideally we will set up a blog to look like a help website, however I have found from research online that most of the one on one advice from 'agony aunts' to the suicidal people happens in forums, so perhaps there is some way of creating a forum.

Listed below are a few of the problems that can potentially trigger suicidal thoughts in a young person:
Death of a parent.
Divorce of parents.
Feeling like a "pawn" that is being used between feuding, divorced parents.
Joining a new family with a step-parent and step-siblings.
Breaking up with a boyfriend / girlfriend.
Moving to a new community.
Not feeling accepted by peers.
Being ridiculed by classmates.
Feeling misunderstood.
Any experience perceived to be "humiliating."
Alcohol abuse.
Drug abuse.

to be continued...by Amelia