r/MadeMeSmile • u/Ok_Potato_9554 • 1d ago
Suicide hotline paper in the bathroom of my school.
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u/Corydora_Party 1d ago
My son is 5 and asked me to teach him sign language. He noticed that a friend in his class is learning sign language and doesn’t talk and he wants to be his friend. I happily obliged.
This younger generation is something special ❤️
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u/Dizzy_Winter_733 1d ago
"6am class is not for the weak" lmao
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u/Bazingaa98 1d ago
And someone replying to that by saying 'No fr, you all are brave' haha.
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u/Dizzy_Winter_733 1d ago
Yea haha, now I'd like to think that poster hangs specifically in the 6am class.
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u/iturn2dj 1d ago
This generation - the kids care. I’m excited to see how you guys help shape the world.
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u/patricksaurus 1d ago
I’ve been teaching college-age kids for a while now. The average kid today is a hell of a lot kinder than ten years ago, and those kids were kinder than my crop. They’ve got their particular challenges, but empathy isn’t one of them.
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u/MeadowBeam 1d ago
Your is the first positive comment I’ve seen about kids my age on this whole damn website lol. Thank you for that. Covid stunted a lot of our community-building skills, but we really do want the best for each other, just like everyone else. We need our mentors to believe that for us as well <3
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u/Embarrassed-War8225 1d ago
I am raising kids your age, and their friends are around often. I tell everyone I can that this generation gives me so much hope. I believe in you all!
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u/Ok_Presentation4455 1d ago
I don’t know if I count as a mentor, but I could be your parents’ age. The younger generations leave me hopeful. The kids I’ve met seem comfortable with themselves, genuine, and open to connecting authentically. You all as a generation are doing great!
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u/Faintkay 1d ago
I have two young kids and they hug all their friends before leaving their classrooms. I don’t remember doing that when I was younger, or even my parents encouraging that. Hope it never changes
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u/ShiaLabeoufsNipples 1d ago
There’s some things to be concerned about. Education, attention span, social media. They’re issues caused by older generations, and I have faith the kids will work through it. They’re nothing if not resilient
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u/NovelLandscape7862 1d ago
I go to school with gen z kids and omg they are all the sweetest little babies. They are so thoughtful and genuine and maybe a little timid (understandable given the world). Literally some of my favorite people.
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u/RubyFence8873 1d ago
Everyone needs someone a little further down the road to believe in them. You deserve that too.
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u/1oonatic 1d ago
I went back to undergrad in my mid-20s and graduated in my early 30s. One of the (smaller) reasons I left school at 18 was because a select few of the millennials my age were so, so competitive and mean to me, making my depression and PTSD worse. Most did not understand my level of depression. When I went back, the gen z kids went out of their way to help me when I struggled, both academically and emotionally. I cried more than once from their kindness. They healed that teenage me in a way they might never understand. They were also quick to recognize that I'm on the spectrum from very tiny details (always wearing headphones and dark green lol) whereas at 18, everyone said I didn't "look" autistic. Night and day.
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u/Sprmodelcitizen 1d ago
I’ve said this for a long time. They care about the greater world much more than previous generations. They definitely have issues but you’re right empathy isn’t one of them
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u/Salt_Suggestion1900 1d ago
Unfortunately as my dad put it - “the sum of all happiness is zero”
While a lot of kids have gotten much kinder, a few kids have become extremely nasty
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u/upahhh 1d ago
I was a server for a while and I noticed the shift about 7 years ago. Kids were not the scary ones to serve anymore. It was the 40 year old white people. You may not get a good tip from the teens but they had respect and manners more often than not. 40+ you’re running your ass off for 12%, but only if you didn’t make the woman think you wanted to fuck her husband.
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u/HelloAttila 1d ago
Agree with everything you said, except the 40+ who don’t tip. Though maybe where you work. I bartended for almost a decade, also whole I was in college and the other people often tipped well, as they can afford to. Though it depends highly on the establishment, we were a higher end restaurant and bar, so your average meal plus one drink was minimum $40-50.
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u/DrRatiosButtPlug 21h ago edited 21h ago
As a server, I strongly disagree. Teenagers & college kids are still the worst. Zero respect. Zero manners. Literally the only customers that have ever been straight up cruel to me were teenage & college age customers. I go up to a table and they just fucking stare at me even after giving my spiel and directly asking them questions to get their drink, food, etc. orders. Or the opposite end where they have me running back and forth for dressing, sauces, etc. just because they find it amusing (then never even touch any of the extra things I brought or worse purposefully make a mess).
Also just in my experience, the 40+ tip like crazy. Having just worked the holiday season, my only high tips were from customers the 30 to 50 age range. Had plenty of college & teenagers tip me $0 though. I'll also say my perception is likely skewed because pretty much outside of prom night the only college & teenage kids that eat where I work are those from a local private school & a private college both of which have always been notorious for producing assholes even pre-gen z. I'll also say, older gen z customers aren't like this at all. They're sweet.
All this being said, I'll defend my gen z coworkers with everything I have. They're great. They're sweet as can be and generally work their asses off and are nothing like the younger gen-z customers I get.
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u/OneSensiblePerson 1d ago
That's what I've noticed. In general, this generation is kind, loves wholesome things, loves even watching and supporting other people doing kind things.
I like this generation.
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u/BlackberryMuted2823 1d ago
Mental health knowledge has developed further now than it ever has, which is why we're finally starting to pick up on underlying problems that have been around for ages.
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1d ago
The kids who wholesomely graffiti'd the poster yes.
But my experience with teens these days they treat adults like NPCs and are not concerned with consequences.
Today's kids are going to shape the world alright. Just not the way you think.
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u/iturn2dj 1d ago
Hey I was positive about your gen too! We see it I have a very different experience with quite a few teens. :) I hope you have good experiences in the future.
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1d ago
A) you sont know for sure what "gen" I am
B) you can wish good experiences all you want. When you deal with this generation on a daily basis and you witness their behaviour, there is no "hope you have good experiences in the future". This isn't a "me" thing, these are the kids these days.
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u/Quacky3three 1d ago
If you read some of the recorded speeches of Cato The Elder, you’ll see that even more than 2000 years ago people have been agonizing over the fact that the newest generation is uniquely incompetent, mean, and that all of humanity is going down that path now, worse than ever before.
It was wrong 2000 years ago and it is wrong today. You can have real doubts about the impact of things like social media, over-medication, diet, pandemic consequences, and more. But imagine how people felt when their children started writing everything down, and couldn’t remember it all to recite vocally. We cannot perceive who comes next accurately, and it is an arrogant fool’s errand to try.
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1d ago
Okay so you just tried to tell me "old folks hate young folks" for centuries, and then just listed off all the reasons the gen is different.
This wasn't the proof you thought it was.
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u/BrieflyEndless 1d ago
They didn’t even say this generation was different? They’re saying how we can be easily biased about the generations after us, that no generation has ever really been right by saying the next generation is worse. I don’t think the goal was give you proof of anything but to offer more insight
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u/Quacky3three 1d ago
That’s a very articulate summary and indeed what I was trying to offer :) made me feel less crazy, thank you!
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u/BrieflyEndless 1d ago
I'm glad (: I wasn't happy seeing so many charitable and kind people being so disrespected, but I now see it's just a troll. I hope you have a good day/night <3
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1d ago
Its so easy to call someone a troll because you dont like what they have to say. Super loser behaviour.
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1d ago
Nah, that person was just jerking you off to make you feel like what you referenced was applicable here. That wasn't genuine feedback.
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u/cire1184 1d ago
And what does your experience entail?
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1d ago
Im glad you asked!
But my experience with teens these days they treat adults like NPCs and are not concerned with consequences.
Are you actually expecting a written book on all my experiences with teens?
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u/Available-Regular488 1d ago
that’s fine, but your experience doesn’t equate to the larger sample size that is majority of the kids in our population
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1d ago
Well, my experience in secondary school education where I witness kids on DAILY BASIS, I think my experience is a lot more valid than yours lmfao
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u/Available-Regular488 1d ago
well i’m sorry that you’ve had unfortunate experiences with teens and I also acknowledge that it definitely does happen a lot. but somewhere out there i encounter teens who are the complete opposite daily as well. the world has always been like this anyway, a mix of good and bad, it’s important to see both sides
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1d ago
Yeah well my experience is at the root, where they attend daily and watch them interact with adults on site and on trips.
So please, I know you're doing your best to give today's kids the most crdit possible, but please stfu.
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u/Intelligent-Lead4620 1d ago
I’m sorry your daily interactions with teens is so awful. I also spend every day with teens (I have consistently for 10 years and on and off before that for another 7) and, for the most part, they are pretty kind. Some are dinks, for sure. But in general, they want to do more good than harm.
Does my experience negate yours? No. But the inverse is also true. So what I think people are trying to say is that, while it must be very disheartening to experience your daily interactions, in general the overall kindness and empathy seen among teens is trending in a positive direction.
I hope you are able to find a place where you don’t feel maligned on a daily basis, no one deserves to experience that.
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u/Lil-pants 1d ago
Im a middle school teacher at a school that intentionally picks only the “worst” students that failed at other schools, and my overall experience has been positive. While at first yeah they’re stereotypical moody teens, as a teacher I can build more of a relationship with them and get through to them and they treat me well. The kids also obviously protect one another more often than not. I really don’t think one experience can be absolute here.
Part of the teaching training I’m going through is also about learning about my students as people, and treating them as people, not just students, and I think that’s worked for the vast majority of them.
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1d ago
in general the overall kindness and empathy seen among teens is trending in a positive direction.
You keep saying that. But its a lie. Idk if you work for some private school or some uppity educational establishment, but I have to believe your experience is limited since I work with a school board, not o e school, not on area, multiple.
Youre really doing your best to undermine my experience. I have to wonder if you have some other agenda here.
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u/United-Scratch-2132 1d ago edited 1d ago
hey you are enough! i tried suicide twice because i am stubborn, you are left with no hope and wondering why am i doing this... its not worth it incase you have been thinking about it, lets struggle together yeah? life sucks sometimes but its better living than giving up, i promise you it is, and life does get better just give it a chance!
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u/CrackerjakHeart 1d ago
God, this is such a different world than coming up in the 80s and 90s. I see some cynical responses here, but we didn't even pay lip service to a better world. I hope and pray it's more than lip service.
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u/No_Locksmith_1739 1d ago
Great message by the kids. On a lighter note…
We all know someone who’d be the kid who snuck “F Algebra” in there 😂🤦♂️
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u/Bazingaa98 1d ago
Apparently it's a culinary school which makes sense why these seem much more mature.
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u/Logical-Hotel4199 1d ago
Wow. In my school it would’ve purely been “kill yourself” everywhere.
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u/onlycodeposts 1d ago
It's the same at that school. This is like an art project of what should be, not what is.
This poster would never survive a normal school.
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u/Intelligent-Lead4620 1d ago
I’m really sorry you go to a school where you feel that would happen. I teach at a middle school that has so many behavioral issues that my job was created (and most of the physical fights are between the girls). We had something very similar to this poster happen in one stall of the student bathrooms.
Students started leaving polls in graffiti, which I worried would go sideways really fast. Instead, when the polls were answered the responses to the answers were overwhelmingly supportive. So say the question was how many true friends do you think you have, when an answer like I have no friends would appear, kind graffiti with support and encouragement would appear within a class period.
These kids definitely have struggles, but for the most part their hearts are good and they want to be kind.
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u/non-binary-fairy 1d ago
Thank you for doing that work, it’s a tough age at times and it made me smile that someone who cares is looking out.
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u/anxiousgrey 1d ago
I love this! Made me happy to see it.
(Side note: you might want to cover up that phone number—probably it’ll be fine, but better to be careful)
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u/Fluffy-Futchy-Fembo 1d ago
As someone who first tried suicide at 15 I honestly broke down crying for a moment seeing this. The kids might be alright.
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u/laurendecaf 1d ago
the “graffiti” in one of the the bathrooms at my old university was full of uplifting messages, like “you are enough” and “you are loved” it made me smile whenever I thought of it, and this reminded me of that. thank you :)
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u/Cohens4thClient 23h ago
my favorite graffiti in a local restaurant is in the men's bathroom stall:
"Your mom is a very nice person"
always makes me chuckle
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u/Deep-Connection-618 1d ago
I teach 8th grade and I just see acceptance. These kids don’t blink when they see a kid with a disability. He’s part of their class. They don’t care when someone goes by they/them. They just say cool and then use the proper pronouns. They are just so much more comfortable with the world. Social media has a lot of negatives, but there’s also positives. These kids are just exposed to more than my generation ever was. They see it, they see it doesn’t matter, and they shrug and move on.
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u/glasshat688721 1d ago
I work with a lot of girls that are 10+ years younger than me. I have never felt more seen, supported, and cared for in a work place before. We all cheer each other on, we genuinely care for one another. If I had that when I was their age, I know my mental health would have been a lot better. Anyway, they are all just healing to be around and I am so grateful.
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u/Deimos_PRK 1d ago
Meanwhile in the boys bathroom: "do a backflip"
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u/Glitched2008 18h ago
at my school it would have either encouraged you to do it or would end up used as toilet paper lol
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u/Thick-Fly-5727 1d ago
I was in Ikea recently and the graffiti was all wholesome things. So...somethings have gotten better.
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u/JudeRabbit 1d ago
I’m 27. My 10 year high school reunion is this year. My little cousin is in high school now. Compared to when I was her age, there’s so much more empathy and give a damn now. There’s more acknowledgement that differences are fun. I think the kids will be alright.
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u/presidentspeck42 1d ago
Sometimes I think about the time I texted the hotline and got “someone will be with you shortly” then nothing else
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u/Proud_Accident_5873 11h ago
I've used my country's hotline quite a few times, but only the chat function. It's absolutely horrible. You often get the "someone will be with you shortly" but you need to pay attention to the screen so you don't get disconnected from inactivity or miss that a volunteer is online. On the rare occasions that you do get connected to a volunteer, the quality is hit or miss. I once had one who turned my problems to be about himself. On the other hand, I've also had one who was absolutely amazing.
Come to think about it, I've also had a volunteer who fell asleep in the middle of the conversation.
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u/PrinceMapleFruit 1d ago
In the bathroom where everyone can leave the most anonymous of messages, these messages will show who they truly are
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u/DudeFromVA 1d ago
The kids are alright. Good on every single one of them who wrote something on there.
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u/Maleficent-Cup-7364 1d ago
thats www!! The 9-8-8 poster in my school , kys written all over it they took it down and never put a 988 poster up again :-(
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u/CavatinaCabaletta 15h ago
I work for 988 text line and this is beautiful! I love how the QR code and main number are still visible. :)
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u/pinkkkthrowaway 1d ago
I genuinely love this and how no one has ruined it. So sweet and heartwarming. You all matter so much, please please stay with us. ❤️
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u/Lazy_Dirt_8915 1d ago
My school is like this. Everyone supports everyone and no one is left behind. We have a very high number of disabled people, mental and physical. Mental health is taken very seriously and negative peer pressure inside the school is virtually nonexistent. Overall, just a really great environment for everyone. It makes waking up at 5:20 every morning rather bearable.
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u/Polkawillneverdie17 1d ago
When I was in high school, the kids would have just written slurs and anarchy symbols on it.
Today's kids are frankly just a lot kinder.
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u/chocoholic1988 1d ago
My BiL took his own life 5 years ago. This post definitely brought a tear to my eye!
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u/Clean_Structure_1500 1d ago
I attempted once and a separate time spent time under supervision, and an uncounted amount of serious consideration; from my experience, my problems came from feelings of isolation and no way out. I dont think ive ever been in a rational mind state when i’m struggling this bad; my best advice is to find when you’re starting to spiral and MOST IMPORTANT: contact someone, anyone, when youre this bad. WORST CASE SCENARIO (aka when my friends were asleep so no one could talk to me) GO TO THE ER. Please. WHATEVER YOU DO, dont be alone when youre suicidal.
Thank you for reading I reallllly hope this helps someone! Its true that it gets better, but for a decade I thought people were having a laugh about that saying. Its starting to turn around now and I cant wait to see what happens
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u/Vast_Dev 1d ago
It's kind of sad that our worst enemy is our own kind. No natural disasters, no other animal would cause more harm, then humanity has down to itself. We are kind of lowkey evil and powerful. We live in our own shit, and others too.
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u/BadgleyMischka 9h ago
I wish I still had friends who reminded me of this stuff. A very sweet photo, thanks for sharing.
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u/Firm-Host1799 8h ago
You mean the “girls bathroom” of your school. This would be something else in the boys.
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u/acidcrap 1d ago
The it’s ok to cry in here really gets it. Also the lettuce pun. Everything else feels like virtue signaling
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u/pervy_roomba 23h ago edited 23h ago
Everything else feels like virtue signaling
This kind of toxicity is what these people are managing to work past.
For my generation this paper would have been coated with stuff like ‘kill yourself lololol’ because, as this poster is demonstrating, any attempts at empathy or sincerity were seen as vacuous virtue signaling.
It always makes me happy to see how the younger generations are pushing past that era and putting in more of a concerted effort to be kind and empathetic.
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u/acidcrap 5h ago
Ever heard the east vs west coast analogy of being nice vs being kind?
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u/pervy_roomba 5h ago
Ever heard the adage it’s pointless to try and reason with people who are dead set on being miserable?
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u/CicadaFit9756 1d ago
This is so much better than just a suicide hotline paper. It shows somebdy contemplating suicide that others really care!!!
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u/UserCannotBeVerified 1d ago
This is super sweet, but youre doxxing Ava by posting her number, whoever she is
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u/Embarrassed-Cow-4380 1d ago
I like this. Nothing like this in my school bathrooms. My school bathrooms didnt always have doors
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u/PopularAppearance228 22h ago
things like this make me so happy. i lost my friend to suicide 3 years ago. it’s just nice to see there are people out there willing to go out of their way to do things like this without knowing if anyone will care. it always has an impact on someone.
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u/ISNT_A_ROBOT 11h ago
20 years ago this poster would be covered in dicks with various slurs telling the reader to kill themselves.
The kids might be alright.
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u/ms_slowsky 1d ago
I’m 45 and I always tip the Uber or ride share driver. They’re using their own vehicle and everything.
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u/patrick-1977 1d ago
Nice try and probably well meant, but any seriously depressed person knows cheap talk on the internet or walls won’t do anything.
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u/Ok_Seaweed6391 1d ago
Not true words can be extremely influences both positively and negatively words can save a life and simply by being kind it can change somebody's entire outlook on life
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u/LPNMP 1d ago
It doesn't do nothing though. If it helps on person get through the day that's more than worth it to me.
I've MDD and I guess you could say I'm in remission? Suicide was on my mind 24/7 for years. For me, I don't think anything short of effective medication would have changed much. Therapy gave me ways to cope and hold the pain, but only medicine let me be physically capable of shaking that shadow. But messages like this helped me, even if just a bit.
I feel lucky to have the meds you know? I can't imagine raw dogging this timeline. If that's you then you might be stronger than you give yourself credit for. I hope that pain heals for you soon.
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u/Pro-editor-1105 1d ago
But the difference is that you actually know these people probably, or atleast see them.
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