Win of the Week: Saving a Life

This week’s win isn’t so much about a creator as her group of patrons – a community that mobilized to save someone’s life; to successfully prevent a suicide.

There are some creators I follow who have built amazingly close-knit communities of people across the world. These groups are more than just fans talking about the creator’s work; it’s a place to share, learn, love, and support one another.

The biggest of these on Facebook, Amanda Palmer’s patron community, is a highly active group brimming with activities, sharing, support – and in the spirit of Amanda herself, some F-words and raw honesty. It’s a place where people are unafraid to bare their souls, ask for help when needed, and give it freely when asked.

Just a few days ago, a couple of group members saw a suicidal post by a former member, and sent the group a plea for help. Within half an hour, hundreds of people worked together to get her phone number and address, and contacted the local authorities. Her life was saved by people across the world who dropped what they were doing to signal boost the message and get help to her.

This is the power of online communities – and Patreon groups are the most involved, loving of them all. They bring together people with a common interest and generous heart, who tend to embody the values of the creator they support.

If you’re a creator, remember, it’s not just you that makes a difference in the world; it’s the people you bring together and the environment you foster. If you foster a community of love, that love will support itself and spread.

After the incident settled down and help was secured, a member posted this note:

Here is a quick recapitulation of what happened within half an hour: two members of the group saw a suicidal post by a former member. They called for help. The group mobilized, put together her phone number and address and alerted the authorities. She was found and is alive. And this, if I remember it correctly, is at least third or fourth time we managed to help like this. To actually prevent someone from committing suicide.

So just know, no matter who you are, we are in this together, nobody is left behind.