Could Cyber-Bullying Cause Teen Suicide?

What is happening to our world? What makes teens or others do things so cruel that it is almost beyond most people's comprehension? What does it take and what can we do? Our teen's worlds are filled with electronics, from cell phones, ipods, laptops that then will take them to Facebook, MySpace and now this new one Formspring.me. Communication seems to be out the window for these kids, they have taken this electronic world and turned it into what can only be called a war on innocent possibly already hurting teens.

According to an article by the Associated Press a beautiful 17 year old girl Alexis Pilkington took her own life after possibly being bullied on sites such as the aforementioned. Alexis had so much going for her even landed a soccer scholarship to Dowling College here on Long Island, where she was planning to start this fall. She was an athletic star, extremely popular, but yet this doesn't seem to help a teen when they have made that choice to take their life. What happens that actually pushes them over that edge of no return and what can we, as parents do to help stop what seems to be a growing epidemic among our teens today?

These teens of today seem to take all this bullying to new extreme levels, as they now continue their taunts on the deceased person's memorial pages set up for family and friends to leave kind messages, pictures and I miss you words. This happened to Alexis Pilkington's memorial page causing tremendous more grief to her family and friends. Horrible images and wording were placed where family and friends were trying to grieve and understand why this happened. What could possibly be going through one's mind when they hear this horrible heartbreaking story and think this is a great opportunity to write mean tormenting things about someone gone?

Parents of teens it's time to seriously open eyes, ears and mouths here. We can no longer sit back and watch this happen. It is apparent that having friends, being beautiful and having a great future ahead of you does not change what is going on inside. According to research done by a social psychologist at Clemson University cyber-bullying has been shown to cause higher levels of depression and anxiety for victims, more so than traditional bullying, due possibly to anonymity.

Please pay attention to your teens, watch for any signs that things are not as they might seem. Always take threats of suicide seriously, even though some may just say it for attention, regardless this person needs not wants attention don't make a mistake, always take threats seriously. Discuss these things with your teens so should they think a fellow friend is in trouble they try to seek help for them before it's too late. Please take time to read this page of facts, warning signs and what to do if you suspect someone maybe suicidal http://www.longislandcrisiscenter.org/facts.html#suicide even if you believe you don't need to know this information. It truly is valuable information that every parent should take time to read.

If you ever need to talk to someone about this, listed below is valuable information on this topic.

National Hopeline Network/ Suicide Prevention Lifeline

1-800-273-TALK/1-800-SUICIDE

For information about cyber-bullying and bullying please follow link below:

http://www.stompoutbullying.org/index.php

Parents it's time to stand together, make rules, listen to your teens carefully and let's try to put an end to all these teen suicides going on around here.

This was originally published on Examiner.com
http://www.examiner.com/x-33498-Long-Island-Parenting-Teens-Examiner