"I do not think they are taking the threats seriously. There is a terrible lack of empathy on these forums."

Human life is precious. Unfortunately those of us that are blessed with non-problematic lives tend to overlook what pains and ails others and often times making their disadvantages even harder for them.

You say that 9 times out of 10 a suicide threat is not serious but you are wrong; very wrong. What you should say is that 9 times out of 10 a threat does not result in a suicide. That does not and will never mean that the person conveying the thoughts is lying or giving false information. To make such a leap of assumption to conclusion shows that you are not at all knowledgeable in the human mind.

Few people will ever utter a suicide threat or make reference to life with out them unless its something that has crossed their mind. Even those that try to play off such a comment as a cruel joke or as a way of getting attention are only trying to mislead you into believing that they are alright. Ask any family member or close friend of a suicide victim and you will surely find that the majority of them will tell you they never saw it coming. Family and friends are often lost and confused in the aftermath of a suicide. They are riddled and tormented with questions and why it was that there were no warning signs.

What causes this lack of proceeding evidence is our society and the way it looks upon suicide. Your comment "9 times out of 10 the threats are not serious" demonstrates my point profusely. We choose to look at suicide as one may look at a person with leprosy or with schizophrenia. The bottom line is our society has placed such a strong social prohibition on anything to do with suicide we would rather keep the problem a football field length away than dive into head first and really try to help those who are in need.

You say that the threats aren't serious. This translates into ... "I don't want to feel guilt or responsibility about not being proactive... and I really don't want to do anything.... so to feel better lets make the problem go away by saying it doesn't exist."

My first sentence states that human life is precious. It is - every one of them. Life is short already and we should be working together as a species with common interest to try to prolong all lives around us. Whether we engage in lives of scientific and medical research to aid our fellow man in long life or whether we are philanthropists and ambassadors of well being to improve the lives of the destitute, preserving life should be the first and foremost concern.

Once suicidal thoughts and threats have been made... all witnesses should move forward with caution and care. These statements should always be taken seriously and should be followed up on in a manner of reaching out. Though a person may not seem like the 'type' that you may think would go through with such an act... this is all the more reason you should take any such statements seriously. A comment that seems like it was made for comical or entertainment purposes is usually done so purposefully. Many people who have suicidal thoughts and desires don't know how to truly communicate these thoughts. This typically is one of the underlying problems that lead to their hopelessness and path to suicide. They already feel disconnected and alone. Their suicidal cry for help will seem off hand and out of place and not serious but will be very real. Once you or people like you that share the same outlook on these "not serious" statements dismiss them without even batting an eye, or worse, mocking them, they will be driven even closer to the edge.

When a person alludes to or references suicide in anyway it should first be taken seriously. Many lives could be saved if we, as a society, would take people's comments, feelings, and behaviors more seriously. Please don't con yourself into believing that its ok to ignore such imperative statements. The vast percentage of those that have taken their own lives have given clues and signs. But those of us around them have failed them miserably by not wanting to deal with the problem. We choose to be blind to it or take away the value of it. We are all guilty in someway. We should be more proactive in helping those that can not help themselves.