A number of nongovernmental organizations that say they represent traditional civil society call on the authorities and the Moldovan Metropolitan Church to work out anti-suicide programs and to cooperate with civil society in implementing these. The initiatives group that made such a call argues an increasing number of young people resort to desperate gestures, while the last reported cases of suicide are outrageous.
In a news conference at IPN, deacon Ghenadie Valuta, who is a member of the initiative group, said the government should think up a plan of action to help children overcome the suicidal tendencies. The Synod of the Orthodox Church will be also suggested to set up parent associations under each bishopric, which would be local offices of a pro-family system. “In the bishoprics of Ungheni and Nisporeni, such offices were already created and these have very good effects. These families supervise socially deprived families that are in the risk group for such behavior,” stated Ghenadie Valuta.
Initiative group member Nicolae Pascaru, chairman of the Movement “Voievod”, said such virtual games as “Blue Whale” are epidemic and promote suicidal tendencies among young people. Nicolae Pascaru recommended the parents to be more attentive to the content accessed by children on the Internet. He called on all the Internet users to report to the police if they discover cases when children are involved into dangerous virtual games. As an alternative to the time spent on social networking sites, the families are advised to take their children to gyms or to find other interesting and useful activities.
Olesea Voinovskaya, coordinator of the social responsibility project for the correct use of the Internet by school students “Online generation, click on safety”, called on the parents and teachers to monitor the activities of children, to explain the advantages and danger of Internet use to them and to impose restrictions on these. She urged the children not to offer personal data to unknown people and to discuss with a trustworthy person if they are or feel threatened and to temporarily or permanently block the profile page.
A group called “Stop Suicide” was recently created on social networking sites to identify persons in situations of risk and offer them consultancy. During three days of the foundation of the group, thousands of volunteers expressed their readiness to monitor social networking sites. Group creator Oleg Chetrean said over 20 suicide attempts were prevented since the group was set up.
It should be noted that on March 8, a girl aged 15 and a 16-year-old boy jumped from the balcony of a block located in Chisinau holding their hands that were tied together with Scotch tape. Before the tragedy, the teens posted messages, photos and short films on the Internet, bidding farewell. It is presumed that the two were engaged in a virtual game that ends in suicide.
