Alarming number of kids turning to this site for psychiatric advise or threatening suicide

Dear children of chess.com,

Some of you are really hurting.  Some of you are just seeking attention.  Some of you are not even kids.  We don't/can't know.

We also don't know when/how to help even if we want to.  We're probably just as lost as you are, probably only hurting less.  Please seek help from someone you trust - hopefully your parents, older siblings, teachers, etc.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_suicide_crisis_lines

https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/security-and-privacy/global-suicide-hotline-resources/?lang=fi

This is the little bit I can do.  Wish the site would do more to post some information out there.  Of course this is not the site's responsibility but we just seem to be living in extraordinary times.

Best regards,

the resident (now robotic) bunny

great.  someone actually downvoted the op.  maybe it was too offensive.

Probably a kid who wants to get psychiatric advice from trolls. 

Do not be discouraged by the downvotes; this website is full of trolls, and what sets you apart is your ability to respond with confidence, wit, and fun. Keep up the good work.

What's ironic is that the OP himself/herself is a troll

The ironic thing is that all of these downvotes and reactions probably contribute to the kids' mental stress...

unwarranted name calling of course is of great help.   but if it makes you feel better about yourself, then more power to you.

strangely the downvote has disappeared?

Probably others are upvoting to cancel out the downvote.

And misinformation as well.  Previously information was hard to source as was misinformation.  Now the readers must filter out the noise for themselves for that faint signal because everyone is an author now.

To be fair, humans are pretty limited. We rely on each other's skills and knowledge. For example I don't have to know anything about medicine to get a cure, because I rely on people who have studied that. Doctors don't have to study meteorology to know what the weather will be like tomorrow because someone else studied that, etc.

So sure, basically no one is an expert on [pick controversial news topic] but at the same time we're not supposed to be. Professionals need to be held to certain standards, otherwise the general population suffers for it.

i am glad that you really are looking out for those in need of help, it warms my heart friend

actually my post is no better than the general virtue signaling we see on the site since it offers no real solution to the perceived problem - and maybe there's no real problem or it's an old problem. 

Just that I've been talking to a couple of kids in messages here, who really seem lonely, lost and or depressed.  either parents are unable or unwilling to help.  none of us, least of all this bunny, is really qualified to dish out advice unless of course ...

but seriously, perhaps like volunteer mods, the site can have site-verified qualified members to offer voluntary counseling.  don't know if that's just plain stupid but i've said it, so there.

AFAIK licensed counselors are masters / PhD, so getting them to volunteer their services is probably not practical. But it sounds nice. Maybe someday that could be more common online.

well if lawyers can do it ...

perhaps a massive accumulation of prior guilt is a prerequisite to make up for karma ;-)

I can understand why the site might not want to set up voluntary counselling of children, the safeguarding issues and legislation involved would require massive input, but I think a pinned, locked forum thread with links for many countries own resources (e.g. Childline, Mind and Samaritans for UK) would be really easy to set up. I've also noticed how many children on this site are asking for help with mental health issues recently, a simple list of links would be a good start and at least we could point them to that. 

I hope all those who do truly need help get it, I just do not think public chess.com forums are the place to get that help. That being said, talking to a bunch of people who like the same thing you do is also a great type of therapy for some people.

Hi Woolly - a locked thread wouldn't stop anyone just playing chess - I haven't opened most of the pinned locked threads as I've no interest in doing so. What it would mean is the company has set up a simple, cheap and non invasive way to signpost any children wanting help rather than the possibility that someone will set up a PM with a vulnerable child with nefarious motives, terrible for the child and opening the company up to legal action. 

I like this idea. I personally think the best way to handle the issue is by giving them the assistance they need while also directing this discussion off of the chess forums, for both the kids' sake and the site's. That would likely include your pinned list in the forums, which could be taken down once this problem is resolved. That way we know that the kids that really need help will get it, and that anyone still posting on the topic after being directed to the links is most likely not looking for help.

This is an issue? Never knew.

   My stance, is that if they need help they should get help, but a chess site is not the place to ask, and the likelyhood that they are attention seeking is very high anyways.