Pro-suicide Websites in Russia Pushing Teens to Suicide
Pro-suicide Websites in Russia Pushing Teens to Suicide
by Kevin Caruso
The suicide rate in Russia is one of the highest rates in the world. The 2004 rate was 34.3 per 100,000 population, a rate that is more than triple the U.S. rate. And the number of young people dying by suicide is particularly high, with almost 3,000 suicide deaths for 5-20 year olds in 2007.
So how do young people find out how to kill themselves? Answer: the Internet. Hundreds of Russian pro-suicide websites are not only providing suicide methods but also encouraging teens to kill themselves. The so-called “suicide club” websites allow visitors to communicate with each other via bulletin-board type Web postings. Numerous depressed and desperate youths ask questions about how to die by suicide and countless responders will list a myriad of methods, with the vast majority of responders encouraging the suicidal teens to kill themselves…some will even help the teens die by suicide.
In one instance, a man volunteered to push a suicidal teen in front of a train or off the top of a building. And this type of offer is not unusual.
These bulletin-board websites are not moderated or filtered, so suicide methods can be spelled out in detail and the posts will not be removed.
For a suicidal person, websites like these are death traps. Very few people offer help. It is a free for all where predators bent on seeing the destruction of others do all they can to hasten their deaths.
There are some individuals who try to help the suicidal on these bulletin boards, but they are greatly outnumbered, so their efforts seem to be largely futile.
Clearly, the government needs to address the issue with improved laws, regulations, and enforcement. But until that happens, the "suicide groups" will continue to operate with impunity.
Suicide.org works diligently on a daily basis via Internet and offline activities to reach as many suicidal people as possible and prevent as many suicides as possible. Sadly, the Internet is a dangerous place, and while we continue to advance our suicide prevention work, pro-suicide websites, groups, and bulletin-boards continue to expand.
The trend is disturbing…but our fight to save lives has just begun.
Needless to say, if you are suicidal or know someone who is suicidal, PLEASE take great care in what you do and where you go online. And please remember that Suicide.org is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Visit us as often as you need, and please tell others about Suicide.org.
If you or someone you know is suicidal, please go to the Home Page of this website for immediate help.
Thank you.
I love you.
Take care,
Kevin Caruso
