[LINK] Aussie 'Video Lifelines'

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

Hi all,

We've discussed online live support for vunerable people before and agreed
that local services will need to be readily available in the near future. 

With events such as below likely to become more common, as the Internet 
replaces the phone as the main public communications channel, maybe it's 
time government funded online video Lifeline services are developed soon.

Internet mates watch live suicide, March 25, 2007 12:14am
<http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21439894-2,00.html>

A FATHER of two has hanged himself live over the Internet in Britain's 
first "cyber suicide".

Kevin Whitrick, 42, took his life after being goaded by dozens of 
chatroom users from across the world who initially believed he was play 
acting. 

But as they watched in horror, Mr Whitrick climbed on to a chair and 
hanged himself with a piece of rope. 

Mr Whitrick was found dead by police in Wellington, Shropshire, after 
they were alerted by a web user. 

Stunned by what they had witnessed - broadcast on a popular chatroom 
website used by millions across the globe - chatroom users immediately 
contacted the police. 

Officers rushed to the man's home within minutes, smashing down the door 
to try to save him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. 

It emerged that Mr Whitrick had been suffering from depression after 
being badly injured in a car crash last year. Friends said the breakdown 
of his marriage and the recent death of his father had also caused him 
great distress. 

Mr Whitrick told users of web chat site PalTalk what he was going to do 
two hours before he killed himself on Wednesday night. 

He was logged on with about 50 other users to an "insult" chatroom where 
people have a go at each other. <..snip>
--

With respect,
Stephen Loosley
Victoria, Australia