Announcing a Fellow Member's Passing

[cyberelijah]

Announcing a Fellow Member's Passing

 

The Beating Benzos administration team operates within a framework to guide them in announcing the death of a member. We want members to better understand our rationale and how they should behave when they hold such sensitive information.

 

There are three main considerations for the administration team:

 

• Protect the privacy of the deceased member’s family. Requests for an announcement must come from the immediate family, spouse, or life partner.
• Confirm the death. A verifiable obituary is a good starting point.
• Determine if the announcement is in the best interests of our members. The default position is that such announcements are in the best interests of members.

 

Please keep in mind the following:

• In the past, we have received requests from family members to refrain from making an announcement about a death. We have honored and will continue to honor such requests. However, if the circumstances of the death are particularly tragic, we require the explicit permission of a close family member before making an announcement.
• Since the introduction of the “Beating Benzos” campaign, several members have attempted to fabricate their suicides. This alone serves as a sufficient reason for us to exercise caution.
• Announcements regarding a member's passing must be handled with great care, given the sensitive and vulnerable nature of our community.
   

Therefore, if you learn of the passing of a Beating Benzos member, regardless of the circumstances, please do not post about it on the forum. Instead, reach out to the team with the details you have. This will allow us to ensure that the announcement is: 1) made in accordance with the family's wishes, 2) verifiable, and 3) in the best interests of our community members.