Image via New Straits Times
Depression
and suicide isn?t a joke.
After posting a poll up on her Instagram Stories, a 16-year-old decided to take her own life after 69% of her followers encouraged her to.
Image via Social Media ExaminerAccording to Astro Awani, the teenager died after falling off the third floor of a shop lot in Bandar Baru Batu Kawah in Kuching, Sarawak. She was found around 8pm on Monday night (13 May) by a passerby who reported the incident to the Balai Polis Batu Kawa. After that, her brother and mother also reportedly found her body on their way home from dinner.
The girl had exhibited warning signs through a posted Instagram story poll which wrote ?Really Important, Help Me Choose D/L? at 3pm that same day. It appears that D likely meant 'die' while L meant 'live'. This might have been her last attempt to reach out for support. Sadly, insensitive social media users encouraged her to take her life rather than offering her some help.
Besides that,
she also posted a status update on Facebook which wrote ?WANNA QUIT (MY) F*CKING
LIFE I?M TIRED? and updated her WeChat status telling all her friends how much she
loved them before she died.
Suicide is complex and there are usually multiple factors that lead to someone taking their life. The Padawan District Police Chief believes the girl was highly stressed and it was reported that she might have been affected by the fact that her stepfather had married a Vietnamese woman in Singapore and rarely came home. Besides that, other difficulties that she might have been facing are unclear.
Sarawak police had classified the girls passing as sudden death with no criminal motive detected. However, today, Free Malaysia Today reports that Bukit Gelugor MP, Ramkarpal Singh, has encouraged MCMC (Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission) to look into the case.
Image via Free Malaysia Today
?How some netizens could have actually condoned this is beyond me,?
?Would the girl still be alive today if the majority of netizens on her Instagram account discouraged her from taking her own life?
?Would she have heeded the advice of netizens to seek professional help had they done so??
Ramkarpal also cited a case in the US that happened two years ago, where a woman was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for encouraging her boyfriend to commit suicide.
?Since attempted suicide is an offence in this country, it follows that abetting one to attempt suicide may be, too,?
Last year, the New Straits Times reported that between 2014 and 2018, over 500 suicide cases were reported in Malaysia every year. Out of that number, a total of 1,696 people died while 625 survived suicide attempts. Of the fatal cases, 1,282 were male while 414 were female.
Most people
who die from suicide exhibit several warning signs before taking their lives.
- Talking about wanting to die
- Looking for a way to kill themselves
- Talking about feeling hopeless or
having no purpose
- Talking about feeling trapped or in
unbearable pain
- Talking about being a burden to
others
- Increasing the use of alcohol or
drugs
- Acting anxious, agitated or
recklessly
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Withdrawing or feeling isolated
- Showing rage or talking about
seeking revenge
- Displaying extreme mood swings
If you know someone who is exhibiting these warning signs, you should avoid leaving them alone. You can also help by removing any drugs, alcohol or sharp objects that they could use in a suicide attempt. Then, take them to the emergency room at a hospital or call a medical or mental health professional.
If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide, these hotlines are here to help you:
1. BEFRIENDERS
Address: 95 Jalan Templer, 46000, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Contact: +603-7956 8144 | +603-7956 8145 | sam@befrienders.org.my | Website
2. TALIAN NUR
Contact: 15999 | taliannur@kpwkm.gov.my
3. ALL WOMEN?S ACTION SOCIETY (AWAM) ? TELENITA
Address: 85, Jalan 21/1, Sea Park, 46300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Contact: +603-7877 0224 | Website
4. WOMEN?S AID ORGANISATION (WAO)
Contact: +03-7956 3488 |womensaidorg@gmail.com | Website
5.DBKL TELECOUNSELLING
Address: Tingkat 1, Menara DBKL, Jalan Raja Laut 50350 Kuala Lumpur.
Contact: 1800-88-2600 | 03-26179905
And remember, you may not believe it now, but the way you?re feeling will change.
