Hi, I was the creator of this subreddit nearly 11 years ago. I have been able to participate as an equal user, as the vast majority of users acted in good faith and were mainly just interested in this type of black metal.

With the general good will of this community, I was able to take a very laid-back approach to moderating. I wish I could continue this approach, but unfortunately, for the past year or so, I have noticed a significant increase in alarming posts and comments. Some negative interactivity may be expected as a community continues to grow, such as spammers and trolls, but extremely negative participators have grown the most markedly. I was aware of the sort of topics I might platform, but what I considered a possible danger has been far exceeded.

Because the very nature of DSBM may attract more vulnerable and depressed individuals, I feel that I need to start moderating posts and comments that could harm people in a difficult place. This includes, but is not limited to: posting images of self-harm, providing instructions of self-harm, asking for methods of self-harm, and threatening self-harm.

These topics were far from the reason I created this subreddit.

This subreddit is primarily about sharing and discussing the musical subgenre DSBM, not depression and suicide themselves. I am not equipped to moderate harmful discussions of mental health. Most conversations regarding mental health, among other tertiary subjects, are still entirely permitted, but any malicious or overtly unhealthy discussion may be removed. Repeat offenders and intentionally provocative commenters may receive temporary or permanent bans at my own discretion.

I am open to opinions and discussion regarding this issue, as well as the state and direction of the entire subreddit. Just reply to this thread and I will get back to you.

I am not a psychologist or therapist, and if you need urgent help, please seek out your local suicide and/or crisis helplines. If DSBM is causing you despair or other mental health complications, please abstain from DSBM. If you don't know how to find help, I would be happy to aid you in finding a resource that can assist you. Either message myself or mods as a whole.

EDIT: I may continue to edit this post, as I expect it will be significant in not getting our subreddit quarantined or banned.