TRIGGER WARNING: This post contains information about suicide, which may be triggering to some.
A Mississippi mother is speaking out after her 15-year-old daughter died by suicide after being bullied while using an online game that asks kids to complete dangerous tasks leading to death. Cyberbullying has claimed the lives of many children struggling to overcome peer pressure from students in school and online.
Mena Willis was the latest victim of online harassment after she reportedly took her life in the bathroom of her high school on October 7, WCTV reported.
Mena’s mother, Leslie Shoemake, said her daughter had depression for nearly three years and that she had tried to find ways to help her. When her school learned about her condition, it attempted to help the teen manage her mental health disorder.
Mena's condition resurfaced after she discovered an online game.
One day, everything changed for Mena after she discovered an online game through Roblox, a gaming platform that hosts games created by other users. According to WCTV, the teen was pressured by users to complete self-harming challenges, including cutting, hanging, and starving herself.
“In this event that the children refuse to complete the self-harming task, the game on Roblox states that they will then harm the children’s family members,” Shoemake said.
Mena, like many others, hid her problems from her loved ones. Instead, she became the family protector and served as the person her family could talk to about their problems.
The teen was always there for her family when they needed her.
“She will come and talk to us, though. Like everything’s going to be OK. And you just gotta, you know, encourage us,” Shoemake said.
Mena’s sister, Leloni Willis, said Mena never shared her problems with the family.
“At the same time, she was battling with all problems; she was trying to be the little big sister to all of us. The more mature one, the one who understands,” she said.
Shoemake said her daughter’s death raised mental health awareness within the Choctaw tribe community.
“My little girl is the hero, and I’m very proud of her,” she told the news outlet.
Choctaw Nation is the third largest native tribe in the United States.
The Native American tribe has over 200,000 members and 11,000 employees, with much of its land in Southeastern Oklahoma. According to the website, the “Great Seal of the Choctaw Nation” is a red pipe with three arrows sticking out.
The tribe has also addressed the ongoing issue of mental health in the community.
In July, the Choctaw tribe addressed the increased suicide rate among minorities in light of Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Statistics from Mental Health America show that Native Americans suffer from psychological distress “2.5 times more than the general population over time,” the website reads.
The death rate among Native American children ages 15 to 19 is reportedly higher than non-Hispanic whites. Mena’s mother said she is raising mental health awareness by creating Mena’s Hope Foundation to support those struggling with depression.
Note: If you or any of your loved ones are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can always reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling 988. They are available 24/7 by phone or online chat.
