MySpace Suicide: A Mother’s Testimony
Unfortunately, many of our lives have been touched by the tragedy of suicide. The death of a close friend or family member can be such a terribly blow. Many people never fully recover from the loss of a loved one, and we’ve all heard - or witnessed - how the loss of a child can totally destroy a marriage and a family. But, suicide is different. It’s not a senseless accident or an aggressive disease. It’s not even a negligent person or a murderous predator who has taken someone’s life - it’s the person themselves.
There is a cold, frightening lack of resolution or closure that occurs when someone commits suicide. Whether or not it’s rational or correct, a suicide can cast a pall of guilt and self-blaming on survivors in a way that other forms of death cannot. This instinct to take responsibility for a suicide must be especially strong for the mothers of teens who decide to take their own lives.
On Wednesday afternoon, Tina Meier’s testified about the circumstances surrounding her daughter Megan’s death in what has become known as the MySpace Suicide case. Meier talked about how Megan - a melancholy teen - had been as happy as ever only a few months before she hung herself in her bedroom closet with a belt. Diagnosed with ADD and depression, Megan was taking medications that seemed to be improving her outlook. Megan had also moved to a new school and was having less problems with kind of harassment and bullying that had preyed on her self esteem. Megan had also met a “hot” boy online, and everything seemed to be going her way.
Unfortunately for Megan, that “hot” boy wasn’t who he claimed to be, and instead of symbolizing her new lease on life, “Josh Evans” would play a pivotal role in Megan’s decision to take her own life.
Hear Tina Meier’s account of her daughter’s last days in my next post.
This post was written by: Joe Nolan
Tags: josh evans, megan meier, tina meier