4 December 2010

Possible death at Downer Oval??

| shonkster
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Does anybody know what happened at Downer oval this morning? As we headed out for breaky we saw Downer oval blocked off with police tape and a tarp up covering what we think must have been a suspected crime scene or dead body? There were police and forensics everywhere. By the time we got back home, there was no sign that anything had occurred.

I guess I will wait to see if it is covered in the local news.

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Disinformation said :

More suicides happen than you think.

With no reporting, how is anyone to know this?

Disinformation said :

Trying to identify with people who are mentally ill is pretty much incomprehensible, so just accept that you can’t reason with someone who is unreasonable.

I think youre making a big connection here between mental health and suicide. Sure, some people who decide to end their lives have mental health issues, and some people with mental health issues decide to end their lives. Theres no denying that this is a problem, and the community recognises and supports it. The problem is, what about those who dont fit into the neat category? What about the person with no mental health issues, who suddenly loses their job, family, etc.. The people in this situation need help just as much as those with mental health issues (if not more as its an impulsive situation rather than a more predictive situation with mental health issues).

Everyone has a stress breaking point, and whether its a volatile person needing very little, or a mentally stable person who suffers a lot, everyone has a point where it gets too much, but as much as society might talk about supporting those in need, society also just expects everyone to ‘just deal with it’. We’ve gotten ourselves into a catch-22.

Disinformation11:37 am 06 Dec 10

If you talk to the people who have been involved in the mental health arena for a long period of time, they’re able to recall when the anti-Senior Suicide and the Youth Suicide prevention campaigns in Australia were followed by a corresponding spike and continued higher occurrence within those targetted demographics.

This was not a casually observed phenomenon. It’s been correlated with other statistical evidence from England and the USA. Awareness of problem solving options brings possibilities to people with problems. Whether you want to place a positive slant or negative slant on the problem solving method is totally from your point of view.
If you encourage the thought of suicide by making someone aware of suicide, it’s responsible to also make them aware of other alternatives to suicide to solve your problems.

More suicides happen than you think. It is unknown, (of course) how many motor vehicle accidents are actually suicides.

Trying to identify with people who are mentally ill is pretty much incomprehensible, so just accept that you can’t reason with someone who is unreasonable. Your opinions on it don’t matter until you’re the one making the decision on whether to end your own life or not. Just support the people who have the problems. They’re all too real to them as your problems are to you.

andym said :

Tooks and Vix – it is well known that suicide is contagious (amongst vunerable people). This is why there is no reporting, its not about sweeping under the carpet.
http://scholar.google.com.au/scholar?q=suicide+contagion&hl=en&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart

andym – it seems it’s not that simple…a reference to the suicide, without details and which mentions that the vast majority of people who suicide are mentally ill at the time can reduce the suicide rate:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copycat_suicide

Pommy bastard9:22 am 06 Dec 10

rs64ej said :

In Saturday’s Canberra Times, there was an article about the Australian twins who took their lives in the US (with one sister surviving). The article talked about how the death of these two women has “put media reporting about self destruction in the spotlight”.

Two dead one alive, three sisters?

😉

Tooks and Vix – it is well known that suicide is contagious (amongst vunerable people). This is why there is no reporting, its not about sweeping under the carpet.
http://scholar.google.com.au/scholar?q=suicide+contagion&hl=en&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart

Don’t give the bastards ideas, Captain.

In Saturday’s Canberra Times, there was an article about the Australian twins who took their lives in the US (with one sister surviving). The article talked about how the death of these two women has “put media reporting about self destruction in the spotlight”. The articles goes on to say that the media are asked to follow certain conventions (created by private organisations that specialise in this area) when reporting about suicide – to provide information about appropriate reporting but to minimise harm and copycats, which is why there’s never a mention of the method, location or description of a suicidal act. It also mentioned that the media should never sensationalise these types of stories (which they allegedly did, in the view of this journo) as this type of reporting can put more suicidal people at risk of following through. It was an interesting read, very sad, but interesting.

Some sort of speed camera like device which measures peoples emotional state, and, if suicidal, records their number plate and sends them a ticket?

Always sad when someone does this, I’ve seen the impact it has on those left behind.

georgesgenitals10:02 pm 05 Dec 10

Captain RAAF said :

Tooks said :

The suicide rate in Canberra is roughly four times the road toll each year..

Hmmm…maybe if someone developed an ’emotions’ collar that we could all wear and whenever we were felling suicidal it would issue us with a fine. Surely that would fix everything?

An emotions camera…?

It doesn’t help if your worried about a friend who may be suicidal, and they won’t get help, when you can see the signs. The person in question is under a lot of pressure.

Captain RAAF8:13 pm 05 Dec 10

Tooks said :

The suicide rate in Canberra is roughly four times the road toll each year..

Hmmm…maybe if someone developed an ’emotions’ collar that we could all wear and whenever we were felling suicidal it would issue us with a fine. Surely that would fix everything?

Tooks said :

I’m not convinced that sweeping the issue of suicide under the carpet by not reporting on it is beneficial. Not saying it should be reported in any great detail, but maybe a mention.

The suicide rate in Canberra is roughly four times the road toll each year, but most people probably don’t realise that. Maybe a bit more awareness would be a good thing.

Or maybe I could be completely off the mark – it’s happened once or twice…

+1 talking about suicide is not expected to trigger someone to suicide – whereas being able to talk to someone you think is suicidal can be lifesaving…

It just highlights that in this season of unwavering commercialism, that there are still things you can’t buy.

Sorry, didn’t see the “definitely suicide” post above.

Could also have been a sexual assault scene and they were protecting the area from possible rain?

I’m not convinced that sweeping the issue of suicide under the carpet by not reporting on it is beneficial. Not saying it should be reported in any great detail, but maybe a mention.

The suicide rate in Canberra is roughly four times the road toll each year, but most people probably don’t realise that. Maybe a bit more awareness would be a good thing.

Or maybe I could be completely off the mark – it’s happened once or twice…

Mr Gillespie4:08 pm 05 Dec 10

BenMac said :

Suicides, in most circumstances, are not reported in the media. Don’t expect to hear anything.

They’re too scared of the “suicide taboo”, so their answer is just to sweep it under the carpet and hush it up — but if your death is at the hands of some thug, the case gets detailed (and often distorted and misrepresented) coverage in the media when it goes to court (and even before).

Very sad, however, this time of year can be very difficult for people.

Just in case:
* Beyondblue info Line 1300 224 636
* Lifeline Telephone Counselling 131 114

That is really sad.

AussieRodney3:32 pm 05 Dec 10

mcs said :

How very sad, especially at this time of year.

As unfortunate & sad as it is, it’s particularly prevalent at this time of the year. Christmas & holidays CAN be depressing for some.

I was talking to a friend that lives just down the road- he said it was a definite suicide as he was talking to one of the policeman yesterday morning who had said there was nothing suspicious around it. How very sad, especially at this time of year.

Generally in a suspicious death, the investigation takes a while to complete, it wouldnt have been wrapped up in an hour or so. Possibly another bag of dumped drugs?

Suicides, in most circumstances, are not reported in the media. Don’t expect to hear anything.

I’m not sure either- I live opposite the park and stayed at a friends place last night so was wandering back very tired this morning at about 9am and walked past on the other side of the road. Unfortunately I think I did spot a body (as unfortunately it was in a position that was above the level of the tarps- quite disturbinng if I am correct. It certainly looked like forensic officers that were there when I walked past, so I fear the worst.

Possible suicide? I saw a guy on one of the old playground equipment a few years back. It wasn’t the nicest thing to see on my way to work.

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