Suicidal Teen Asks Internet to 'Roast' Him — Here’s What Happened Instead

When people are feeling suicidal, they will often reach out to the people around them. Sometimes, those people happen to be folks you interact with on the Internet.

This is exactly what teenage Reddit user MufasaQuePasa did on Thursday when he posted this message on the r/RoastMe subreddit: “17 years old russian with crippling depression. Give me a reason to end it all.”

For context, users who post a picture of themselves on Reddit with a paper that says, “r/RoastMe” willingly open themselves up to being “roasted,” or made fun of by other users.

But instead of roasting the teen, Reddit users flooded the subreddit with supportive messages, urging him to seek help and not give up. Official Reddit moderator GallowBoob even chimed in and said, “This goes against the rules of the sub and its essence… y’all being so fucking nice. But fuck it cheers OP [original poster] <3”

Here are some of the other supportive responses people posted:

Sorry. I can’t roast you…Talk to someone and get some help. It would be terrible to have the world lose someone like you. Win your battle!

Son, I’m not going to use words to hurt you… I won’t roast you ever and if you need someone to speak to, I’m here every day. Hold on, white knuckle grip, I’m not letting go and neither are you.

Proud of this reddit community… Please go seek some help. It’s a good world, that we don’t always see.

MufasaQuePasa is not the only person who has reached out for mental health help online. In October of 2017, the story of a Pornhub user who reached out for depression help on the Pornhub platform went viral. The story was an important example of the reality that people look for help where they are — and for many people, “where they are” is the internet.

Online communities can be so important for individuals to feel supported and seen when they are struggling. Because of this, it’s worth talking about how to get suicide prevention resources into these spaces where people are clearly seeking help.

This strategy might be especially beneficial for men who don’t know where to turn for help. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, men die by suicide 3.54 times more often than women, and are less likely to seek help for their mental health.

This teenage Reddit user is not the only one thinking about suicide. If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, we encourage you to post a Thought or Question on The Mighty, a safe and supportive online community full of people who care.

If you can, please take a moment to share a word of support or encouragement to someone who might be struggling today by clicking the post below.

If this news is hard for you, you’re not alone. There is hope and help available. If you or someone you know needs help, visit our suicide prevention resources. If you need support right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or reach the Crisis Text Line by texting “START” to 741741.

Update: Reddit user MufasaQuePasa responded to the outpouring of support. On Sunday February 4, 2019, he posted a picture of himself smiling on Reddit with the caption: “Thank you for all the support! Seeing complete strangers care about my situation really warmed my heart.”