Former Teacher Posted Tragic Suicide Note on Facebook Before Killing Himself (VIDEO)

maandag 23 september 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Rebecca Stokes 1 hour ago

A former high school teacher took his own life last week after posting a suicide note on Facebook. Sources say the man, Christopher Swanson, 41, was despondent after losing his teaching license and may have been obsessed with a former student.

His body was found in front of a fountain on the Mercyhurst University campus in Erie. Police say he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. In previous Facebook posts, Swanson had mentioned that his former student was now a freshman at Mercyhurst, but that is currently unconfirmed. 

The tragic questions: If Swanson was so open about his plans, why did no one reach out to help him until it was too late? Did no one read it? Did no one take him seriously?

In addition to posting on Facebook, Swanson also had a website where he discussed the turns in his life that he believed had contributed to his increasing feelings of hopelessness. Chief among them, his belief that his former student would never reciprocate his feelings.

Adding to this tragedy is that in spite of his website and Internet activity, Swanson was unable to connect with resources that could have provided help. For all its size, the Internet can still be an exceptionally lonely place. What a tragedy.

His death prompted Mercyhurst President Tom Gamble to reach out to the university community via video. Gamble implored people to turn to their faith in this troubling time.

What would you do if you thought you saw a suicide note online?

Please call 1-800-273-8255 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in case you are worried about yourself or someone else.

Image via Michael Schreifels/Flickr

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rebecca Stokes

Rebecca is a writer who lives in Brooklyn with her cats. She is probably even at this moment spilling food on herself.

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Cyber-Bullied 12-Year-Old Girl's Suicide Is a Tragic Reminder

vrijdag 13 september 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Jacqueline Burt 9 hours ago

Heartbreaking news out of Florida: 12-year-old Rebecca Ann Sedwick committed suicide after being relentlessly bullied online by 15 girls, jumping to her death at a cement plant in her hometown of Lakeland.

As the mother of a 12-year-old girl, just imagining what this child's parents are going through makes me feel utterly ill -- her life had barely begun! But as a former 12-year-old girl, imagining what Rebecca went through makes me feel equally sick. Among the insults her bullies posted on the internet: "Go kill yourself" and "Why are you still alive?"

Just terrible. And here's the part that makes me want to spend 100% of my energy monitoring my daughter's presence online: Sedwick left a series of digital clues before her death. She messaged one friend saying "I'm jumping, I can't take it anymore," and changed her name on a messaging application to "That Dead Girl." 

If only someone had recognized the signs. Sadly, Sedwick isn't the only teen to leave such a trail in recent days ... 

Just weeks ago, on the first day of school in the town where I live (Greenwich, CT), high school sophomore Bart Palosz killed himself with his family's shotgun. In the days and weeks leading up to that tragic day, Palosz posted many suicidal thoughts on social media. Palosz, too, was bullied. 

The girls who drove Rebecca to suicide might be charged with felony cyber stalking, but of course that won't bring her back. We can only hope that other bullied kids are saved as a result of parents and friends hearing Rebecca's story.

If the words someone is using -- even online -- indicate they may be considering suicide, or if you yourself have wrestled with the idea, please reach out to a suicide hotline. There is ALWAYS someone there who wants to listen and who will take you seriously. You can call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

How do you think we can help bullied teens? 

Image via NatalieMaynor/Flickr

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jacqueline Burt

has written for numerous magazines, newspapers, and websites. She is easily bored and often tired, so she requires constant entertainment to keep her awake. Dance, Monkey! Dance! 

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Suicide Risk Could Be Detected With a Simple Blood Test

vrijdag 23 augustus 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Maressa Brown 16 hours ago

Most of us think of blood work as rather routine. But a new blood test that may be available in the future sounds like it would be anything but ordinary. In fact, it sounds like it has the potential to be downright controversial and even questionable ... According to Indiana University School of Medicine researchers, a "suicide risk blood test" could hypothetically predict a person's risk of taking their own life -- at present or even the likelihood of it over a lifetime.

They arrived at this conclusion by finding that certain biomarkers in the blood are linked, fairly reliably, to our risk of dying by suicide. Intriguing? Oh yes. But the idea that we might attempt to test for these biomarkers in just about anyone, as an everyday routine test, is a bit troubling ...

How would we really be able to put a test like that to good use? How would it work? Meaning what would a doctor's follow-up be if the test came back positive for someone with depression? How 'bout without? What if someone was having suicidal thoughts and the test did NOT point to these biomarkers? Would their actual risk be questioned? What kind of interventions/drugs (ugh) would they be offered vs. someone who had the biomarkers? Would someone with the biomarkers end up being stigmatized ... or hospitalized? See, it's definitely NOT something to be taken lightly!

Regardless, researchers note that the reality of a suicide risk blood test is a ways off ... The connection between the biomarkers and suicidal thoughts has only been found in people with known mental health issues. The next step will be to see if it can be found in the general population. And researchers will go from there. Let's just hope they ask and are able to answer most -- if not all -- of these difficult, poignant questions about a possible blood test's use if that is where this research leads us all.

How do you feel about the possibility of this test?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Maressa Brown

has enjoyed reporting and writing for a variety of entertainment and women's magazines and websites. More often than not, you'll find her blogging, hitting the gym, reading, researching something on her iPhone, laughing, chatting at an above-"normal" volume, or getting her caffeine fix.

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Actor Lee Thompson Young Found Dead at 29 in Apparent Suicide

maandag 19 augustus 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Adriana Velez 5 hours ago

We have heartbreaking news this afternoon. Actor Lee Thompson Young died from an apparent suicide, according to TMZ. He was 29 years old. When Young had failed to report to work on the set of Rizzoli & Isles this morning, staffers called the landlord of his home in Los Angeles. Police say Young was found dead in his apartment. They did not disclose any other details about his death. However, Young's publicist released a statement, saying, "It is with great sadness that I announce that Lee Thompson Young tragically took his own life this morning ... Lee was more than just a brilliant young actor, he was a wonderful and gentle soul who will be truly missed."

This is terribly sad news. Young's career included his breakout role starring in the 1990s Disney show The Famous Jett Jackson, followed by a role of running back Chris Comer in the 2004 movie Friday Night Lights. He had roles in The Guardian, Scrubs, Smallville, Akeelah and the Bee, and FlashForward. His current TV series, Rizzoli & Isles, airs on TNT. He plays Detective Barry Frost opposite Angie Harmon.

Lee got his start in acting at the age of 10, when he played a young Dr. Martin Luther King in the play A Night of Stars and Dreams. Young studies martial arts throughout his life and was an active supporter of the Children's Defense Fund.

Details on this story are still developing. Our condolences to Young's family.

Please call 1-800-273-8255 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in case you are worried about yourself or someone else.

Image via Splash News

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Adriana Velez

is a staff writer who dabbles in food, parenting, news, entertainment, molecular biology, and anything else that that pops into her head. She lives with her elementary school-aged son in Brooklyn, land of urban farms and artisan everything.  

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'Bachelor' Star Gia Allemand's Heartbreaking Tweets About Suicide Uncovered

zondag 18 augustus 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Jeanne Sager 4 hours ago

The news that Gia Allemand had died by suicide continues to shock fans of the Bachelor who recall her as a sweet girl and former model who rose to fame during Jake Pavelka's season of the show. Now a look at the reality star's Twitter account shows had spoken of suicide in the past.

TMZ pored over Allemand's Twitter account and uncovered several mentions of having been bullied, as well as mentions of bullying victims who have committed suicide. At the time, the reality star credited her mother for teaching her to be nice to people rather than to be a bully herself.

Said Gia in October:

As a victim of being bullied most of my life, I'm gonna say that people who can say mean things to other people and put them down are just insecure and depressed with their own life! Glad my momma always told me 'if you don't have something nice to say than don't say it.

Days later she shared several tweets about Amanda Todd, a bullied teenager who committed suicide, including this particularly heartbreaking one:

Words Hurt.  Pain Lasts.   And suicide last forever.

Gia's mom, Donna Micheletti, has chosen not to speak out specifically about her daughter's death, but she did release a statement explaining when she will talk about the tragedy and advising people to steer clear of Twitter comments on her death.

In part, the statement from Gia's family, released to People earlier in the week, read:

The family and close friends of Gia Allemand have not spoken to the media to date, nor have they posted comments or insight on Twitter. There are numerous statements and theories in the media regarding Gia's death and her life that refer to sources close to Gia or friends of hers.

As Micheletti points out, it would be unfair to speculate whether Gia's past mentions of suicide and bullying have any bearing on this tragedy, but they are certainly a reminder that we need to be aware of the tenor of friends' and family members' tweets.

If the words someone is using -- even online -- indicate they may be considering suicide, or if you yourself have wrestled with the idea, please reach out to a suicide hotline. There is ALWAYS someone there who wants to listen and who will take you seriously. You can call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.

Image via Splash News

Click the "Like" button below if you're a fan of The Bachelor(ette) ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jeanne Sager

writes articles for The Stir by day, slays closet monsters and bounds through bedtime stories with her elementary schooler by night. The Phineas and Ferb soundtrack reverberates through her brain.

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[UPDATED] 'Bachelor' Star Gia Allemand Is Dead in Apparent Suicide at Age 29

woensdag 14 augustus 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Sasha Brown-Worsham 4 hours ago

Beautiful Bachelor and Bachelor Pad star Gia Allemand has died at the age of 29 from unknown causes after being admitted to a hospital in New Orleans on Monday night. Earlier, she was listed as being in critical condition. Now, it's being widely reported that the former model and reality star has tragically passed away.

We will all remember Gia as the sweet and lovely girl from Jake Pavelka's season of the show. Her soft-spoken ways and obvious history with heartbreak made her a favorite of Bachelor fans. Then when she was on the Bachelor Pad and played like such a genuine and caring friend, it only grew.

As of now, there are no details given as to what killed her. It was only listed as a "serious medical emergency event." Our hearts are with her family in their time of grief. She was far, far too young. What a tragedy.

**Update: According to a press release issued by her family, Gia died from an apparent suicide attempt. Her boyfriend found her. It said:

Due to a critical loss of brain and organ function, life support was withdrawn today. Ms. Allemand passed away peacefully with her mother, boyfriend, and other life-long friends by her side. As a practicing Christian, Gia did receive the sacrament of last rites.

No one knows what would have led to such an act, but TMZ is reporting Allemand had been extremely distraught in recent weeks over her "rocky" relationship with NBA player Ryan Anderson.

Our hearts are breaking for her.

Do you remember Gia from the show?

Image via Splash

Click the "Like" button below if you're a fan of The Bachelor(ette) ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sasha Brown-Worsham

can't decide whether she is a mother, writer, or runner, but is usually all three at some point each day. She has written for dozens of print magazines, newspapers, and websites. She rarely ever writes on bathroom walls.

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