A medical examiner in Oregon has concluded that a 6 year old girl committed suicide after being sent to her room. The police disagree with the finding and view it as an accident. The question has become whether a small child has the mental capacity to commit suicide.
For now, her death is listed as the youngest suicide on record in Oregon. This classification will likely have both legal and societal implications.
As a side note: this obviously falls under the "orama" part of neatorama. As a parent I personally found the article incredibly disturbing on many levels.
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While her mother and three siblings were in another part of the house, the authorities said, Samantha got inside an unused crib that had no mattress or box spring. She placed a child's belt around her neck and tied it to the upper railing of the crib, hanging herself. The first-grader died at a hospital after the family and paramedics tried to save her.
Dr. Clifford Nelson, the deputy state medical examiner, ruled the death a suicide, a conclusion police did not support.
"The disagreement is a little more philosophical than it is material to the case," McMinnville police Capt. Dennis Marks said prior to the public records request. "It's not that we disagree with the mechanics of what happened. It's the finding that a 6-year-old could form that kind of intent."
Nelson said it's a disturbing case, but he couldn't "fudge the facts to make people feel better."
For now, her death is listed as the youngest suicide on record in Oregon. This classification will likely have both legal and societal implications.
As a side note: this obviously falls under the "orama" part of neatorama. As a parent I personally found the article incredibly disturbing on many levels.
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Because I couldn't handle being ignored by everyone, (yes, my parents ignored me, but not by choice. I knew they loved me, they still do, but I rarely saw my dad because of his job, and my mom was always busy doing something.) which included my sister, cousins, and anyone in my age group, and being abused by someone I thought I trusted, I was going to "sleep forever." I was going to take a load of sleeping pills (my mom's an insomniac. So am I), but fate has it that the day I was going to kill myself was the day my abuser stopped and my mom ran out of pills. Not sure what to do, I failed in my plans, and so far, I've been thoroughly enjoying life.
So, yes, child suicide is possible. It's always been possible, and will always be possible as long as children are abused, hurt, or just put through too much stress or emotion overload. That's why parents must love their children, nurture them, but also discipline them with a gentle, but stern hand. Condolence to the parents. No one should be put through that sort of pain and grief.
Anyhow I don't have respect for so many foolish people who comment that children don't think that way. My son was very intelligent above grade level. Its not that hard for children to know that when you die, youre dead and theres no coming back. My sons death is a tragedy like many other children who committed suicide. But can I honestly say my son didnt know what death was no! Am I responsible for sending my child to his room. People are so arrogant I wonder if any of the people who have commented to this story have any kids. I never thought my son who had a great future ahead of him would have done such a thing. Do I question it yes thats why i found this story because I want to understand. Yet I know that my children are not my children but God's. My son touched many lives while here on earth and Im sure he is a great Angel watching down on earth. Everything happens for a reason and rather you believe in God or not I don't care because I do. If I didnt have a God to believe in I'd probably be dead along with my son. The pain of losing a child is really unexplainable. But somehow I have a strength that keeps me going everyday I wake up. N only my God could give me such strength.
I apologize if anyone gets offended but some people just shouldnt comment on things they dont understand try researching and learning on a subject title whatever before given their opinion.
My prayers are with the family of this child. I understand and feel the pain they are going through.
God Bless
She has had mental health issues since the age of 3 and has been seen by many professionals and had several invasive tests to rule out more physical causes of her behaviour (yes we're canadian, hence the spelling). We have multiple diagnoses from 3 doctors. Currently she is being treated primarily Bipolar Disorder among others.
We are constantly trying to keep this child stabilized. As she grows, she needs changes to her medications and it can be a struggle to find the right dose/combinations. Recently her fluoxotine (Prozac) was increased----since this increase she has been talking a lot about killing and wanting to die (black box warning on ssri's). Most of this is at school in her "pretend life" where she hates being because she also has separation anxiety and would be much happier at home with mom.
Children absolutely can have real feelings about wanting to die and it shouldn't be underestimated. Don't ever think for one second that it's always a sign of bad parenting. We love our child to pieces and have been trying since the age of 3 to help her. Sometimes there is a lot more to the story than a child being sent to their room or abuse etc. I hope that I never have to bury my child----that would be totally devastating and my heart goes out to these parents.
In my opinion, children see everything overbig and overserious. So, the moment (and it must be a moment), when they do something foolish like wanting to hurt back... and they (in many cases sadly) succed, we have a TRAGEDY.
GOD HELP US ALL.
and 6 year olds don't kill themselves just because mommy said no, i was fully aware of what i was doing and remember it clear as day, i wanted to die because my parents were drug addicts, my father was a drunk, I got made fun of everyday, and I got to listen to my best friends screams as he was beaten by his foster parents everyday
its not selfish to want to kill yourself, its selfish that myou people whining don't take in the fact that, that person could STILL be getting raped and beaten and tortured, physically OR emotionally every day, you're selfishfor wanting to control them, its sad when a person goes, but
saying thats selfish is saying you want to prevent them from THEIR happyness, how selfish of you is that?