HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS Psychiatric Bulletin Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ball, D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ball, D.

A virtual cry for help?

The Oaks Resource Centre, 843 London Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon CR7 6JH

EDITED BY MATTHEW HOTOPF

With the advent of the internet, and widespread publication of e-mail addresses on web pages, it is increasingly easy to correspond with members of the health professions. Such ease of access may be used to good effect, but is also open to abuse. For example, there is a report describing an individual who was saved after they published their intention of suicide on the internet. Furthermore, the Samaritans can be accessed by e-mail. Recently I received an e-mail purporting to be a suicide note. The mail apparently originated from an identifiable individual and their e-mail address was supplied. The letter expressed anger, with unambiguous suicidal intent, and contained some features suggestive of contact with mental health and social services. Having received the letter some 6 hours after it was sent I initially contacted the server who indicated that they could identify the subscriber and would be able to release this information to the police. I therefore contacted the local police and this information was passed to Scotland Yard who arranged a visit to the registered address. The police found the individual, whose signature was on the letter, safe and well. Apparently, at interview the individual, with the responsible adults at the address, denied sending the e-mail.

This e-mail could have been a genuine cry for help, which remains unmet, or the situation may have resolved. Alternatively, it may represent a hoax perpetrated by the individual concerned or another logging onto the server with, or without, permission. While appropriate use of e-mail is to be encouraged there is a great potential for abuse, with the concomitant waste of clinical and police time. As such letters will become more frequent it is essential that an appropriate response and procedure be established between the caring professions, police and internet service providers.

This Article Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ball, D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ball, D.