Parents Warned About ‘Blue Whale Challenge’
A school district in Alabama is among the first here in the United States to warn parents about something called the 'Blue Whale Challenge' or 'Blue Whale Game'. It is a 50-day challenge for teens to harm themselves, and then on the last day commit suicide.
The game originated as an app called The Blue Whale Challenge. It has since been taken off of iTunes and the Google Play store. The creator of the app has also been jailed in Russia. The game has been blamed for several suicides in Russia and other European countries. Authorities are warning parents in the U.S. that the game can still be spread. Teens are apparently still tagging each other on social media platforms and inviting others to play.
What can parents do? Remain vigilant and keep on the lookout for signs of depression in your teenage children. And if your child speaks about suicide in any matter, take it seriously! If you think that your child may be contemplating suicide, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK. For more tips on suicide prevention, click HERE.
[via WCVB, HelpGuide.org]