Phillips, JGThakral, PMann, L2026-04-232026-04-232026-01-23Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking, ISSN: 2152-2715 (Print); 2152-2723 (Online), SAGE Publications, 29(2), 122-127. doi: 10.1177/215227152614175512152-27152152-2723http://hdl.handle.net/10292/20977Online forums for potentially suicidal individuals are intended to provide peer help and support but may also lead to harassment and baiting. Factors associated with assistance (concern, suggesting seeking medication or treatment) and with baiting (taunting, encouraging self-harm) were investigated in an archival study of the Reddit r/sad forum during 2 months in 2023, in which N = 175 posts flagged suicidal ideas and intent. Assistance was offered in 158 cases (but suicide methods were also suggested to 11 cases), and no response proffered to 17 cases. Offers of assistance were more likely when the suicidal individual did not report substance abuse (r = 0.20) and had a larger audience (r = 0.22). Baiting was more likely when a suicidal person indicated a suicide method (r = 0.27), was receiving more audience responses (r = 0.21) and audience downvotes (r = 0.36). While assistance was much greater than baiting, the incidence of baiting (∼5 percent) and the potential for harm is a concern. Even moderated online forums may present a risk for potentially suicidal people.This is the Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking © 2026 by SAGE Publications. The published version is available FREE ACCESS at doi: 10.1177/21522715261417551assistancebaitingindifferenceonline forumssuicidal ideation5203 Clinical and Health Psychology52 PsychologySubstance MisuseMental IllnessSuicide PreventionSuicideBrain DisordersBehavioral and Social SciencePreventionSerious Mental IllnessMental Health2.3 Psychological, social and economic factorsMental health3 Good Health and Well Being0806 Information Systems1701 Psychology1702 Cognitive SciencesClinical Psychology4609 Information systems5201 Applied and developmental psychology5205 Social and personality psychologyHumansSuicideSuicidal IdeationMaleFemaleOnline Social NetworkingAdultSuicide PreventionSocial MediaHumansSuicideSuicidal IdeationMaleFemaleOnline Social NetworkingAdultSuicide PreventionSocial MediaJournal ArticleOpenAccess10.1177/21522715261417551