TODAY we can reveal the shocking way suicide among teens is glamourised on social networking sites like Bebo.
The sad news that seven young people from Bridgend in South Wales killed themselves in an apparent “chain” of copycat suicides has led police to fear some hoped to gain "web fame".
Some of the dead - who all hanged themselves - had profile pages on Bebo, a popular site with school kids.
A quick internet search reveals one profile under the name Suicide Girls.
It carries a disturbing cartoon picture of a pink teddy bear hanging from a rope.
A line on the page says the site is, "For people who don't give a f*** and want a suicide lifestyle," adding it is "For Girls and Boys Who Love Tattoos, Piercings and Crazy Stuff."
In a discussion forum, user Amy Addiction posts, "For the people who keep asking what a suicide lifestyle is - well this is all to do with suicide girls, like the models, so yeah lifestyle like them ... glamorous, pretty etc."
While the Bebo page does not in any way encourage suicide among its users, fears have been raised about its possible influence on vulnerable youths.
A spokesperson for charity PAPYRUS - which works to prevent suicide in young people - described the page as "extremely dangerous".
She added that the image of the teddy bear was "very disturbing".
The spokeswoman said: "Glamourising suicide can be extremely dangerous to vulnerable young people.
"It could appear that it is promoting suicide. It could be encouraging young people to think that suicide is cool."
www.thesun.co.uk, Wednesday, January 23, 2008
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