AA is not always the be all and end all for depression and lonliness. And some old time AA folks can be against medication. We have only to look back at the Robin Williams suicide, so soon after he was released from rehab.
Certainly it would be a great thing if we could expand the DR1 registry and online support to include more of a contact line for new comers and those who might feel stranded here. It can be a lot harder to open up in a in person Meeting in a small town.. and in Spanish.. (as far as I know, there is one English AA meeting in SD and there may be one other English Meeting somewhere in Puerto Plata..but as I said, that does not address those with other mental issues)
I took the liberty of actually going to the deceased's FB page and finding the "Diane" in question.. at least that is whom I assumed it to be since she was in the photos in the DR, and is now in Mexico, and sent her the information, just saying that I was a free lance journalist and did not know if the authorities here or the Embassy would have made contact with her.
I think it must be hard particularly for men, who do not show their vulnerabilites as easily as women do, to allow themselves to be helped.
One thing that I do think that we ought to do, collectively, is to make sure that newbies have given someone they know here in the DR their contact information at home. What to do in case of emergency? Who to call? That sort of thing.
Do we want to arrange some sort of buddy up project here on DR1? I (who keeps disappearing!) would be most happy to be of service to ANYONE in Santo Domingo who needs help. Also to anyone who has to come to SD for medical treatment. I may not be available to show folks around town or stuff like that but am certainly willing (and able and have ) spend time on the phone or in person, talking someone down off a ledge.
Of course, some folks plan to kill themselves, have terminal illnesses, have had this as a long term life plan and I can also respect that. I do not hold a moral position on suicide. Just that they might have changed their minds if they had had someone to talk with THAT night.
I do not know if there is a suicide hot line here in the DR. The international suicide page refers one to Befrienders and they have no one here in the country,.,,
Member Search | Befrienders
but folks here on DR1 are far more likely to be able to know of someone in trouble and find help? or no?