SHORT COMMUNICATION 360
The Growing Trend
By
Roger Behra
When Jesus was being crucified in such a cruel and painful way he
uttered these words, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they are
doing." Well, the same words can be
said about the recent trend going on in Orange County, California during the
past four years: Suicide. Orange County residents have been killing themselves
in increasingly large numbers. Since 2008 the increase is 20 percent. That is
an alarming increase and situation, although it is not just off the cuff. There
are two solid reasons for trend increase: Bad economy; teenagers and cyberbullying.
When the bad economy developed in 2008, California was hit very hard and
led the U.S. in unemployment. Orange County was hit the hardest in the state. Many
workers lost good jobs and others could not find a job. And the recovery from
the bad economy took much longer than elsewhere. That definitely helped the
suicide trend to increase.
While the bad economy took it's toll, another trend increased: Cyberbullying.
That happens when one bully bullies another through digital transmissions which
are humiliating and devastating. Teen girls make the mistake of having sexual
encounters with teen boys and others. Frequently the encounters are photos, and
later they are anonymously digitally transmitted showing the girls and their
naked bodies: bare breasts, bare bottoms, and genitals clear and fully exposed.
Then the girl can be shown having intercourse, but that is not the end of it.
The girl in the transmission is usually bullied and becomes embarrassed,
humiliated, and full of intense mental suffering. All of that has led to many
teen girl suicides. Teen boys also commit suicides for one reason or another, many
times it's because of strict parental control or boys bullying boys.
Audrie Pott's sexual episode with three boys ended up being digitally
transmitted without her knowledge. She suffered all the related results. After
eight days of it she called her mother from school to pick her up. As soon as
she arrived home she ran to the bathroom and hanged herself. Her mother
couldn't believe it. The grieving was instantaneous.
Ordinary suicides have also been on the increase because of age
degeneration and illness. It's more common now for someone to murder family members
and then the murderer commits suicide rather than end up in a trial and a
prison sentence.
In Orange County the 20 percent increase in suicides has been during the
past 4 years alone. The year 2011 was
the worst: Gunshot (107) was the leading method and hanging (95) wasn't far
behind. In 2012 gunshot suicides remained nearly the same while hanging greatly
decreased. Regardless of the type, suicides happen often.
R. B.
5-5-13
