For an org focused on Trust & Safety, the @iftas publication "Responding to Self-Harm and Suicidal Content" makes some extremely harmful recommendations.
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For an org focused on Trust & Safety, the @iftas publication "Responding to Self-Harm and Suicidal Content" makes some extremely harmful recommendations.
https://about.iftas.org/library/responding-to-self-harm-and-suicidal-content/
As moderators, we carry authority into our conversations that cannot be set aside. A moderator reaching out to someone facing suicidal ideation is often oppressive, pushing the afflicted away from networks of support.
NEVER call the cops on a minority in crisis!
This harmful document should be removed.
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For an org focused on Trust & Safety, the @iftas publication "Responding to Self-Harm and Suicidal Content" makes some extremely harmful recommendations.
https://about.iftas.org/library/responding-to-self-harm-and-suicidal-content/
As moderators, we carry authority into our conversations that cannot be set aside. A moderator reaching out to someone facing suicidal ideation is often oppressive, pushing the afflicted away from networks of support.
NEVER call the cops on a minority in crisis!
This harmful document should be removed.
@mawr would you be willing to share which of the resources you have an issue with?
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@mawr would you be willing to share which of the resources you have an issue with?
@iftas The first linked doc "Responding to suicidal content online: Best-practice guidelines" from the National Sports Performance Association as a start!
The "The Support for Suicidal Individuals on Social and Digital Media free toolkit" which follows it also strongly recommends calling the police on suicidal individuals.
These publications ignore the realities of policing in the modern age.
The Reddit guide is great for users, but should not be followed by staff for reasons aforementioned.
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@iftas The first linked doc "Responding to suicidal content online: Best-practice guidelines" from the National Sports Performance Association as a start!
The "The Support for Suicidal Individuals on Social and Digital Media free toolkit" which follows it also strongly recommends calling the police on suicidal individuals.
These publications ignore the realities of policing in the modern age.
The Reddit guide is great for users, but should not be followed by staff for reasons aforementioned.
@iftas Essentially- responding to suicidal users is something that should not be left to admins and moderators for the same reason you don't call people who believe their job is to shoot criminals to respond to a mental health crisis. The perception of authority often severely stifles any potential progress one might make and makes the individual feel unsafe to continue pleading for help.
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@iftas The first linked doc "Responding to suicidal content online: Best-practice guidelines" from the National Sports Performance Association as a start!
The "The Support for Suicidal Individuals on Social and Digital Media free toolkit" which follows it also strongly recommends calling the police on suicidal individuals.
These publications ignore the realities of policing in the modern age.
The Reddit guide is great for users, but should not be followed by staff for reasons aforementioned.
@mawr thanks.
That first document is from the National Suicide Prevention Alliance - a UK health organisation (https://nspa.org.uk/)
The guidance is clear: "If someone doesn’t want to get help themselves, you may have to consider calling 999 for them. This is a serious decision, so make sure you think it through carefully." (it goes on to add more context and decision support)
The second document refers to local emergency services in cases of imminent danger only.
(continued)
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@mawr thanks.
That first document is from the National Suicide Prevention Alliance - a UK health organisation (https://nspa.org.uk/)
The guidance is clear: "If someone doesn’t want to get help themselves, you may have to consider calling 999 for them. This is a serious decision, so make sure you think it through carefully." (it goes on to add more context and decision support)
The second document refers to local emergency services in cases of imminent danger only.
(continued)
@mawr what I think would be appropriate is to add something on the IFTAS page that describes these concerns before visiting/downloading these evidence-based resources.
I will work on some cautionary language to add to that page.
Thank you for the feedback.
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@iftas Essentially- responding to suicidal users is something that should not be left to admins and moderators for the same reason you don't call people who believe their job is to shoot criminals to respond to a mental health crisis. The perception of authority often severely stifles any potential progress one might make and makes the individual feel unsafe to continue pleading for help.
@mawr it absolutely should not be left to admins and moderators, but it does happen, and moderators have asked for expert guidance.
Of note, some countries have "duty to rescue" laws that require action at risk of penalty.
It's a complex problem for moderators worldwide.
Side note, if you have additional resources to consider adding to that page, I'd be very grateful.
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@mawr it absolutely should not be left to admins and moderators, but it does happen, and moderators have asked for expert guidance.
Of note, some countries have "duty to rescue" laws that require action at risk of penalty.
It's a complex problem for moderators worldwide.
Side note, if you have additional resources to consider adding to that page, I'd be very grateful.
Thank you for this discussion. I appreciate the idea of an IFTAS preamble advising caution and jurisdictional awareness before acting on any advice in a resource documented.
I wanted to agree on the "duty to rescue" and mention that in some areas such as mine, that can be a position that an individual moderator could be in related to other aspects of their life, not specifically a volunteer role moderating a fedi instance ... 1/?
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Thank you for this discussion. I appreciate the idea of an IFTAS preamble advising caution and jurisdictional awareness before acting on any advice in a resource documented.
I wanted to agree on the "duty to rescue" and mention that in some areas such as mine, that can be a position that an individual moderator could be in related to other aspects of their life, not specifically a volunteer role moderating a fedi instance ... 1/?
... for example, someone with a professional designation as a teacher, social worker, etc. (in my area) *could* be considered under law or by court precedent to have such a duty of care even if volunteering outside of their professional capacity.
Fortunately (also here), most in such roles would also have the support of a professional association or union and would likely be able to access social or health services responders, not random cops.
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Thank you for this discussion. I appreciate the idea of an IFTAS preamble advising caution and jurisdictional awareness before acting on any advice in a resource documented.
I wanted to agree on the "duty to rescue" and mention that in some areas such as mine, that can be a position that an individual moderator could be in related to other aspects of their life, not specifically a volunteer role moderating a fedi instance ... 1/?
