Compassion Alert

ABOUT COMPASSION ALERT

Many of our blogs say “If you ever need to talk, I’m here!” Some people can’t or won’t find the help they need by going to someone and asking. Yet, 8 out of 10 teens and young adults who commit suicide ask for help in some way.  Are you willing to go to them instead of wait for them to fill your ask box? This blog’s purpose is to alert Tumbloggers when someone needs help or just a kind word. Follow to get these alerts on your dashboard and love on those who need to know that they are cared for.

• If you or someone you know is suicidal, free to sumbit urls that should be posted through this system. Please note that the followers of Compassion Alert cannot be counted on to save lives or give professional help; if you are in danger, please call your local emergency number or contact a professional for help. You can call 911 or your local emergency number, dial 1-800-273-8255 in the USA, or  click here to see other emergency resources.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• I am/I have a friend who is suicidal; what can I do?
  If you or a friend are in immediate danger, you must call 911 or your local emergency number. Other resources are also listed for this on the Emergency Resources page. 
   
• You didn’t post a URL I submitted/you didn’t reply to my message… do you just not care or do you just post URLs that you think are important? 
  If a url you’ve submitted hasn’t been posted in 12-24 hours or I don’t reply to a message, you can assume that we didn’t get it (sometimes messages sent through Tumblr don’t go all the way through). Feel free to send anything a second time if you’re not sure we got it. 
   
• I want to be listed on your page/I want someone else to be listed but don’t want to be credited.
  You are welcome to submit your own or another link here (just leave out the .tumblr.com part). No one will know if it was you, a tip from someone else, or a blog found through tagging. We will not give out our tipper’s name or url to anyone, even if asked. 
   
•  What do the colors on the alerts mean?
  Alert - this person is down or upset, and really needs encouragement
  Orange Alert - this person has mentioned wanting to die or suicidal thoughts
  Red Alert - this person has hinted strongly about suicide or has actually said they will commit sometime
  Urgent Red Alert - this person has said goodbye (or said goodbye in so many words), posted a suicide note, stated/hinted that they will take their life in the next 48 hours or so, or has already begun to attempt suicide. Urgent Red Alerts are for crunch time, when we know we only have a little time to get a bunch of people over there and help them. NOTE: Please stop putting ‘urgent’ in your tips if this is not the case with the person for whom you’re submitting.
   

• What’s a Deja Alert?
  A Deja Alert is an alert posted for someone who has been on alert before.  
   
• What are Trigger Warnings?
  Trigger warnings are notes put on alerts to warn responders of possibly ‘triggering’ content on the linked blog. If there is pro-ana content or something that may trigger someone with an eating disorder to want to engage in eating disorder behaviors, it is labeled “ED Trigger Warning.” If a blog has pictures of self-injury that could trigger someone who has self-harmed to want to do so again, it will be labeled “SI Trigger Warning.” If there is disturbing suicidal content on a blog (such as pictures or gifs of people committing/having committed suicide) I will put a “Suicide Trigger Warning” on it. You may also see NSFW warnings or Gore Trigger Warnings on some posts.
   

• Can I follow CompassionAlert on other sites? 
  Yes, you can follow on Facebook and Twitter to get updates even when you’re not on Tumblr. Also check out our facebook group if you’re a regular responder/would like to become one, and our youtube channel, where we will be adding more videos soon.
   
• Will you do a promo for me? 
  No; Compassion Alert does not do promos.
   
• Will you follow me back?
  No. Compassion Alert is a secondary blog on my account, so even if I did follow you, it would not appear as Compassion Alert following you. 
   
• Who’s behind this blog? 
  My name’s Madden. I’m a 20 year old student who went through a lot as a kid and younger teen. As a survivor, I want to see others who are going through difficult times have people alongside them to comfort and encourage them. 
  As of late, a few awesome friends of mine have been taught how to post, so that alerts can continue to go out even when I’m not around. 

• Is this a religious blog?
  I am a Christian, and this blog is part of my ministry. The people that respond to the alerts with me (the followers of this blog) are from all different backgrounds. 
   
• A shout-out to the followers: 
  You guys are so amazing. Many of you reach out to complete strangers to show love on a daily basis without asking for anything in return.  Your compassion just blows me away and I thank God that you all have such big hearts. If I had to give you only one piece of advice, it would be this: be the kind of person you would want by your side. Don’t wait for others to take responsibility - take 60 seconds out of your life and change someone else’s. God bless you; I love you all. 
  ~ Madden