On the Blue Whale game:
I think people often get the causality of things like this a bit wrong. The idea that a game, challenge, or app by itself can convince you to self harm or commit suicide is fairly absurd. The power that something like this has can only be on someone who's predisposed or struggling with the commission of such acts anyway. You have to ask yourself: do people self harm because they play games like this, or do they play games like this because they already feel like committing self harm?
Which is why it's a little more important to turn our eyes away from transient trends like this to the mental state that enables them - the challenge will fall into obscurity within a month; the struggle with depression, or suicidal tendencies (and I am tempted to say 'within adolescents' here, but such a limitation would be both counterproductive and misleading) are not.
I think people often get the causality of things like this a bit wrong. The idea that a game, challenge, or app by itself can convince you to self harm or commit suicide is fairly absurd. The power that something like this has can only be on someone who's predisposed or struggling with the commission of such acts anyway. You have to ask yourself: do people self harm because they play games like this, or do they play games like this because they already feel like committing self harm?
Which is why it's a little more important to turn our eyes away from transient trends like this to the mental state that enables them - the challenge will fall into obscurity within a month; the struggle with depression, or suicidal tendencies (and I am tempted to say 'within adolescents' here, but such a limitation would be both counterproductive and misleading) are not.
If you know someone going through that, don't shun them. Our society does a good enough job at either ignoring mental illnesses entirely, or portraying them as crises of faith; be open, be understanding, and be supportive, regardless of the emotional toll it takes on you - you might be able to take it; they might not.
And if you're going through that yourself (or do so in the future), please reach out to whoever you feel comfortable talking to, whether that's someone close to you, or a stranger. Personally, my door is open (should you feel comfortable talking to me about it) and if anyone feels like sharing this, it's an indication that theirs is too, no matter how little we talk. Self harm and suicide are never the answer. And if you're reading this, regardless of whether we're close or not, regardless of whether we have even ever met or not: I want you to live.
And if you're going through that yourself (or do so in the future), please reach out to whoever you feel comfortable talking to, whether that's someone close to you, or a stranger. Personally, my door is open (should you feel comfortable talking to me about it) and if anyone feels like sharing this, it's an indication that theirs is too, no matter how little we talk. Self harm and suicide are never the answer. And if you're reading this, regardless of whether we're close or not, regardless of whether we have even ever met or not: I want you to live.
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