This paper explores how users on Internet forums dedicated to suicidal thoughts establish their authenticity in initial posts and how responses from others shape these portrayals. Through analysis of data from two forums, the study identifies four key practices used by individuals to convey their genuine distress: narrative formatting, transcending depression, showcasing rationality, and avoiding direct pleas for help. The findings indicate that these forums serve as platforms for individuals to test, authenticate, and validate their suicidal identities, highlighting the need for effective postvention strategies.