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About A Boy

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Mon, 22 Feb 2010 8:36p.m.

Teenager Michael Powell’s suicide came without warning. The night of his death he received text messages from a 13-year-old girl:  texts about suicide.

60 Minutes reporter Sarah Hall investigates the tragedy and reports on a growing number of similar incidents.

Producer:  Phill Prendeville
Reporter:  Sarah Hall
Camera:  Arthur Rasmussen
Editor:  Paul Enticott
 
If you need to talk to someone:
National Depression Helpline 0800 111 757
The Lowdown – text 5626 or visit www.thelowdown.co.nz
Lifeline 0800 543 354 or (09) 522 2999
Youthline 0800 376 633
Samaritans 0800 726 666
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Comments [17]

YASMIN
20 Mar 2011 9:10p.m.

HI I CAN'T BELIVEVE THAT U RROKEN HIS RIPE AND HIS LEG

XOXOXOXO
MAW

unknowen
23 Nov 2010 9:45a.m.

its such a shame what happened to mike , i didnt know him but i got told what happened . i know these girls quite well and i hope they suffer the consequenes they get in the future , rest in peace michael

S H A N I A . . !
17 Mar 2010 9:36p.m.

Faaa'r o m g sori fur ur loss ae i respect you in every way nd that u didnt press charges nah dat jus sad dat dae kan just lie lyk dat i give my condollences tu micheals family

>>>NZ
17 Mar 2010 8:17p.m.

Education is crap, maybe people should consider being enlightened on what really is going on within the world rather than political and media-rized sh*t, everyone is trying to find there way through life, yet pressure from totally unnecessary manipulation, fake roll models, expectations on how we SHOULD LIVE confuse alot of young people, Love at 13 years old these days, what is that? I can understand why youth have suicidal thoughts, hard when your waking up from being a child to an adult and relising what life is becoming and what its about, its sad reality but without world change not a lot is going to change,

Mel
11 Mar 2010 5:04p.m.

my condolences to the family. my little brother committed suicide a couple of years ago, so we know exaclty what this family is going through. its a tough time, but time heals all wounds and i believe he is always with us. as your michael is with you. blessings. mel

Andrea
02 Mar 2010 10:20p.m.

To Mike(comment posted 2 March), please do contact the boy's parents. Whether he's in fantasy or reality, they need to know he's placed this message on your daughter's phone. Please intervene. Your daughter may be upset with you initially but we parents need to take back the responsibility we have surrendered.Celia Lashlie recommends all teens' cellphones be surrendered to parents at bedtime.

Mike
02 Mar 2010 6:53p.m.

I have just found a text on my 13 year old daughters mobile phone form a boy saying that he is going to throw himself off a bridge and that he is very depressed , because she wont go out with him . what does one do , i feel like approaching his parents .what can we do .

mere
27 Feb 2010 9:11p.m.

how sad to think that teenagers like the two girls are so bored with life that they sort to play a game that ended in tragedy. Who is to blame? well New Zealand like the rest of the world are so complacent that this has become another part of everyday life. Parents allow their teenagers to have a mobile phone that is now their buddy and babysitter. Change the law on assissted sucide, because this is what it is. No parent should have to bury a child. As for the two girls Karma will come back to them when they hold their first child, and realize what they did.. Rest in Peace Michael

Bailey
26 Feb 2010 9:01p.m.

It was a horrible thing. Something I can not describe the lost that we in Waihi Beach and KatiKati are feeling. I din't know him well, but from what I know, was that he was a sweet,innocent person, who put others ahead of himself. It was wrong for 2 people to take advantage of his kindness, and lovingness. I feel for the family. And school want be the same with out him. Bye Michael.

Pam
26 Feb 2010 2:08p.m.

God what a tragedy and let's try and stop this happening to our kids....but why did the reporting seem to concentrate on witch hunting the two girls "involved"? They are grieving for a lost friend and now they're being blamed in the national media for his death. Good way to make anyone, let alone a teenager, feel good about themselves. Seek solutions not more victims.

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