Rosie Wilson’s brave stand against suicide internet sites
Posted by Ellee on Nov 4, 2010 in Headway | 14 commentsThe mother of a beautiful young woman who tried to commit suicide has been nominated for a national Headway award for her dedicated campaign to warn others against 
the dangers of sickening internet sites that provide encouragement abou
t how vulnerable people can kill themselves.
I will be joining Rosie Wilson, mother of Ziggy, who is one of our lovely service users at Headway Cambridgeshire, for the award ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel in London on 9 December, in my capacity as chair of trustees. I’ve met Ziggy there a few times and she is stunning, always beautifully dressed and made up, and it breaks my heart to think of the desperation she felt three years aged 23 which led to her trying to commit suicide by hanging, having suffered depression since her late teens.
She was found by her boyfriend in time to save her life – but was left brain injured, and now needs a full-time carer. Prior to her suicide attempt, Ziggy had visited a number of internet sites that provide detailed instructions to young people about how to kill themselves. Her parents only made this terrible discovery after they read their daughter’s diary while she was in hospital.
For the past year, Rosie has been campaigning to ban suicide websites and sharing Ziggy’s tragic story in national newspapers and the media. Here is a link to a moving report in the Daily Telegraph. She has been meeting with politicians too in the hope of winning support from the government. Rosie has also persuaded Cambridgeshire County Council to build specialised supported housing for adults like Rosie with a brain injury where three or four people will be able to live together and share one carer, making it cost-effective.
I thought of Rosie and Ziggy following the tragic deaths of Stephen Lamb and Joanne Lee who apparently killed themselves after making a suicide pact after meeting via an internet suicide forum. The courage which Rosie has shown in helping others avoid the same tragedy her family has suffered leaves me in no doubt that she deserves to win Headway’s Campaigner of the Year award.
*Pics courtesy of the Daily Telegraph.
Personally, I don’t see the point in trying to ban these websites. If people are desperate to kill themselves, they’ll find a way.
Also, to clarify, all these sites do is provide information on the most effective, painless ways to die. Most of them do still encourage people to seek help, & the one I frequented when I was suicidal had a forum full of supportive, like-minded members with which to talk to.
In my opinion, a ban wouldn’t be terribly effective – it would force the sites underground. Surely improving our existing mental health services would be better? Maybe then people wouldn’t get to the point where they feel they have to kill themselves.
Great post, Ellee.
I do so admire those who turn a personal tragedy into a campaign to do good for others, to prevent the same heartache for some other person Well done. Well done for her! And well done for you my cyber friend for your support.
I wish Rosie well in her campaign. These sites should be closed down.
Well done and she’s to be supported in this, Ellee.
Anne, what a terrible tragedy. It’s so heartbreaking, particularly for those left behind.
Faye, thank you for sharing those lovely memories of Ziggy.
Kevin, it’s unbelievable that people would rather film someone dying than help her. That kind of moral decline is too awful for words.
The advent of internet and video technology has coincided with the moral decline.
I was horrified to hear of the gouls photographing 7/7 victims as they passed them when being rescued from the scene.
I was also horrified that a girl who jumped off a car park near to us was filmed rather than helped as she died.
Actually there are quite a few sickos around. New communication methods bring them to the fore.
i knew ziggy at school and am deeply saddened by her and her families tragedy. she was a bright, lovely, friendly girl at school and i wish her mother all the best for her battle against these sick websites x
I have heard about those sites and I am glad someone is making a courageous stand against them.
These horrible websites do not help at all, and should be totally banned …
Did you read about the student who committed suicide in Cambridge recently.. I met some friends of his , whilst at my dance class, the day of his funeral, he came from oxfordshire.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23888365-double-tragedy-student-suicide-after-friend-killed-by-london-bus.do
A very sad situation too.
I have just seen the BBC Look East report on this story – and this was no mention of Headway Cambridgeshire -(
It focused only on Rosie’s campaign to have these internet suicide sites banned.
Jean-Luc, aiding and abetting suicide is illegal. These internet sites should be banned. Good luck Rosie Wilson.
It’s creepy. All those people on the web urging someone to do it.
How sick is that?