Mason students criticized for video
MASON — Three Mason High School students are being sharply criticized by school officials for making a social media video depicting them joking about suicide by hanging.
The three girls from the Warren County high school who filmed the video were unaware their post on social media was around the time a female sophomore at the school had killed herself off-campus, according to district officials.
“Horrible judgment and terrible timing,” said Tracey Carson, spokeswoman for Mason City Schools. “Suicide is never a joking matter ...”
The girls were in a local department store’s bathroom when they filmed the suicide parody as they pretended to hang themselves with toilet paper. Their video mimics another social media video from outside the region that recently went viral showing a teenage girl doing the same thing as an attempt at humor.
In a message sent to Mason City Schools families, district officials wrote: “It is important to take any threat or talk about suicide seriously. Start by telling the person that you are concerned. Don’t be afraid to ask whether she or he is considering suicide or has a plan or method in mind. Resist the temptation to argue the person out of suicide by saying, ‘You have so much to live for’ or ‘Your suicide will hurt your family and friends.’ Instead, seek professional help.”