A 16-year-old girl in Malaysia, struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts, put a poll on her Instagram page asking her followers to help her decide between life and death.

The poll was shared with the message: “Really Important, Help Me Choose D/L”.

The Guardian reports that when a majority of the responders voted “death”, she took her own life.

Her death has prompted a lawyer to suggest that those who voted for her to die could be guilty of abetting suicide.

Ramkarpal Singh, a lawyer and MP in the north-western state of Penang, said: “Would the girl still be alive today if the majority of netizens on her Instagram account discouraged her from taking her own life? Would she have heeded the advice of netizens to seek professional help had they done so?

“Did the encouragement of those netizens actually influence her decision to take her own life? Since attempted suicide is an offence in this country, it follows that abetting one to attempt suicide may be, too.”

In February, Instagram announced that it would be introducing “sensitivity screens” that block content showing ‘self-harm’. This was following the death of British teenager Molly Russell, whose parents believe saw images of suicide and self-harm on the app before she took her own life in 2017.

If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, help is at hand HERE.

[source:guardian]