After Paul Logan's post, let's talk about suicide

This past week was a shorter work week for me due to the New Year holiday.  I was fortunate enough to spend a little over a week with my two children during the holidays.  We did a whole lot of nothing, which was great.  My son got a Nintendo Switch, so we played that a lot.  He is so much better than I am.  I didn't even improve as the days progressed!  How is that possible?'

As my vacation week was winding down I began prepping for my work week.  When I prepare for my week I look at who I am seeing that week, review any notes I may have, and look at any contacts that may have happened since the last time I saw each person (schedule changes, billing questions, etc.).  As many of us do, I had Facebook up in a tab while I was working online.  A story popped up that would not only shift my thinking in the time I had left with my kids that week, but also in the approach I might have for my therapy sessions in the week coming.

On NYE, a YouTuber named Logan Paul posted a video of the "Suicide Forest" in Japan.  I'll admit, prior to New Year's Day I had very little knowledge of Logan Paul.  I have studied online trends and I have presented in a variety of formats on the subject (i.e. gaming, social media dangers).  I had heard of him because he is one of the few "lucky" ones who have made a career out of YouTubing.  However, I feel like the minority because his channel has over 15 million subscribers.  I have since taken a crash course in Logan Paul and the famed video he posted NYE.

Logan Paul et. al. posted a video of the Aokigahara forest in Japan, also known as the "suicide forest" on NYE.  He and his crew went into the forest to allegedly explore and experience the possible hauntings that might be present there.  Unfortunately, it turned into something much different.  In Logan's words with the original vlog post, "...Buckle the (expletive) up, because you're never gonna see a video like this again."  Logan came upon the body of a man who had recently killed himself in the forest.  Rather than stopping the video, calling authorities, paying their respects, and moving on to something new, Logan not only filmed the body but he also made several crude jokes and he and his crew are seen and heard laughing about the man and what they had found.  The video has since been taken down.

Understandably, people were outraged.  Not all people, but people.  Conversation about his videos being demonetized or not swirls around the controversy.  I had to look that word up, in all honesty.  The best I can tell is that it basically means money cannot be made from a demonetized video.  If I'm wrong, someone please correct me.  But, I digress.

People were outraged.  Celebrities responded.  And, eventually, Logan Paul apologized via Twitter.  Sort of.  You can see it here:

Suicide is not fodder for a YouTuber.  It is serious.  It is real.  It has a ripple effect.  Even conversation about it can have a ripple effect, both positive and negative.  Professionals in the mental health field are cautioned about how to approach the subject because, if not handled appropriately, it can lead to additional suicidal ideation and/or attempts.  My own son told me, after hearing about Paul's video, that he thought it made suicide seem like more of an okay option because of the way Paul showed it in a joking and light-hearted manner.  Recently, a Dekalb County, Georgia, 2nd grade boy attempted to take his own life while at school after hearing about suicide during a school counselor's classroom guidance lesson.  His mother is trying to to come to terms with what happened, how it happened, and everything and anything else you can imagine might go through a parent's mind when they get a call from the school that their son tried to kill himself.  You can read the story here.

In the days following Logan Paul's vlog post, I had several clients personally affected by what he had done.  Some of my clients are struggling with anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation themselves.  Some comments made by my clients this week about his video were, "He clearly doesn't understand suicide," "He shouldn't make a joke out of it," "I've seen his stuff, I wasn't surprised, but I was upset because of what it might mean to so many people," and, "It scared me because so many people might see his video and think about killing themselves."

As a therapist, it is extremely concerning to see his video and the potential "copycat" type behavior that might ensue.  Logan Paul doesn't have any training in suicide awareness or prevention, that I am aware of.  He doesn't have any training as a mental health professional.  He is spinning his approach now as one of suicide awareness.  Without the appropriate support to follow the "awareness" he leaves viewers with an emotional reaction and nowhere to go with it.  His number of followers increased by 80,000 since the infamous suicide forest vlog.  80,000!

Japan has one of the highest rates of suicide with over 20,000 people taking their lives each year.  The Aokigahara Forest in Japan has been the subject of documentaries and films due to its reputation.  Japanese authorities patrol the area in attempt to stop and help suicidal people.  There are signs posted in the forest with words such as, "Your life is a precious gift from your parents," and, "Please consult with the police before you decide to die."  The forest is the second most popular place to commit suicide.  The Golden Gate Bridge is the first.

Please, please, please, talk to someone if you or someone you know might be at risk for hurting or killing themselves.  Call the hotline at the top of the page for help, tell an adult you trust.  Do something because help is available.

Here are some warning signs and commonly used statements indicative of suicidal thoughts (source: Beyond Blue)

Suicide warning signs

• A sense of hopelessness or no hope for the future.
• Isolation or feeling alone – “No one understands me”.
• Aggressiveness and irritability – “Leave me alone”.
• Possessing lethal means – medication, weapons.
• Negative view of self – “I am worthless”.
• Drastic changes in mood and behavior.
• Frequently talking about death – “If I died would you miss me?”.
• Self-harming behaviors like cutting.
• Engaging in 'risky' behaviors – “I’ll try anything, I’m not afraid to die". 
• Making funeral arrangements.
• Giving things away (clothes, expensive gifts) – “When I am gone, I want you to have this”.
• Substance abuse.
• Feeling like a burden to others – “You would be better off without me”.
• Making suicide threats – “Sometimes I feel like I just want to die”.