I think I might be the first to do that.
Let me explain. I have a “How to…. video” on YouTube that people find through Google or YouTube searches when they look up this particular way to die. It does have a cringe-worthy title but the content doesn’t match the title because I don’t actually tell people how to do this certain thing. I wouldn’t even know and I don’t want to know. I just tell a 56-second video story and offer hope and resources.
This video has a warning on YT due to the title and I requested YouTube to remove it from being “suggested” so it’s only found through a search when someone is in despair and looking up this “how to” phrase.
When I posted it years ago, I was in despair over losing my son, Charles, to suicide.
I knew what clickbait was but I didn’t equate it with this video. While it’s not often I’m told I’m clickbaiting instead of offering instructions, it’s a fair accusation since the video doesn’t deliver instructions for the how-to that was searched. I take full responsibility for that. What I am doing is putting time between thought and action which saves lives. I feel that someone in this state of mind isn’t in full control of themselves during that moment. While not everyone would agree with this, most would.
More often than not, there is a back-and-forth conversation on YouTube or on the blog post by the same title, and finally, “I feel better as you are listening to me.” Because people want to be heard.
The video as of this writing has 77k views and 2,615 Comments–all of which have been answered by me since posting it 5 years ago. I even get people reaching out years later to say they remembered feeling heard and turning things around.
There are precious few times the comments make me laugh. I can count three. The “clickbait comment” is one of those times. What’s nice is that the algorithm is putting the comment near the top so more are seeing it and more are agreeing.
AnneMoss Rogers is a leading wellness and suicide education expert and one of the top mental health speakers and suicide prevention speakers. Known for her powerful, motivational keynotes, AnneMoss combines her personal story of loss with proven strategies to help organizations build a wellness culture that drives results and saves lives. She speaks at conferences, workplaces, K-12 schools, and universities, delivering impactful presentations that inspire change and promote mental health awareness.
AnneMoss does this work in memory of her son, Charles, who struggled with anxiety, depression, and addiction, and died by suicide at age 20 in 2015.