Dear Editor,
I am writing to express my views on an article I read recently. The title was ‘After spate of suicides, we should all act as digital Samaritans’.
The article used the fact that over half of the students committing suicide in Hong Kong had indicated suicidal thoughts on social media before they took their own lives as a premise to convince readers to act as ‘digital Samaritans’. They would actively look out for friends who needed assistance and raise awareness among other Internet users to do the same. The author believed that these methods would effectively curb the number of student suicides.
I agree with the author. In this digital age, the influence of the Internet is everywhere, and social networks like Facebook have replaced telephones as the means of communication between different people, particularly students. Thus, the impact of social media on teens is significant. For this reason, social media can act both as a reinforcement or hindrance to suicidal teens. In terms of reinforcing, cyber-bullying is extremely common nowadays, with people posting malicious comments online to belittle someone they do not like. When the suicidal teens read the hateful comments directed at them, they will feel strongly that nobody in the world appreciates their existence, and they are therefore unworthy of living. This will reinforce their notions and determination in taking their own lives. However, the flip side of this coin would be hindrance. If people start posting encouraging instead of nasty comments, the suicidal teens might feel a flicker of hope on how the world actually perceives them. They might believe that they are in fact valued by someone else, and they are not alone in this world. Sometimes all that stance between whether or not a suicidal teenager would really take his own life is a simple statement from another party. If that statement is positive, the teen might not commit suicide. Therefore, it is necessary for online users to become digital Samaritans.
Regarding the solution to teenage suicide, I personally think that family support is extremely important as well. Family members are the closest relations people have on earth, and the lack of family recognition might also contribute to the suicidal mentality of certain teens. As teenagers go through puberty, they try very hard to discover their own potentials in order to find their place in society and fit in. This particular trait can be the reason to why teenagers pay so much attention to others’ perceptions of them. They seek recognition to affirm their position among the people surrounding them and in society. Therefore, when the individuals closest to them do not give them the praise they desire, they might easily have the misconception that they are worthless. So, it is essential that the teenagers’ families actively show support and affection towards them. When they feel loved and treasured, it will be much easier for them to step out of their shadows and not fall prey to their doubts.
There are certainly many ways to tackle students’ suicide, but from my point of view, the best way to heal a heart is through love and support, and the role of family is crucial.
Yours faithfully,
Chris Wong