Without a safety Net, dead on the Net

The death of a teenager at his own hand, made known online as it was happening, raises questions about suicide prevention.

On Nov 30, a 19-year-old man in Sichuan province killed himself by taking sleeping pills and filling his room with carbon monoxide fumes. From 8 am until 2 pm he tweeted his thoughts and actions, often accompanied with photos, until he passed out.

This was not the first suicide broadcast live via social media, and doubtless it will not be the last. From what is known, there seems to have been no foul play. The young man, surnamed Zeng, started an online relationship with a woman and a week later she wanted to end the relationship. But he could not take no for an answer.