Charlotte Dawson's death puts cyberbullying back in spotlight

Updated

The death of Charlotte Dawson has Australia reflecting on depression and the increasing incidence of cyberbullying via social media websites.

Dawson, a prominent campaigner against cyberbullying, was found dead in her Sydney apartment on Saturday.

She revealed in her autobiography, Air Kiss & Tell, that she was frequently visited by the "depression bogeyman".

The former model was hospitalised after an attempted suicide in 2012 when she received a torrent of online abuse on Twitter, including from one troll who urged Dawson to hang herself.

Kate Carnell, the chief executive of Beyond Blue which campaigns to raise awareness about depression, says that bullying via social media can be a major factor in triggering mental health issues.

"Because people can bully anonymously, it makes it more likely and it makes it more dangerous," she told ABC News Online.

"People do it because they think it's smart, it's funny, but the message we have to get out is that it's not.

"It can do serious damage."

Dawson outspoken about cyberbullying

In 2012 Dawson, who had more than 53,000 followers on Twitter, re-tweeted messages directed at her from abusers in order to expose their behaviour.

"If you're going to express those points of view, you should do it with a face and a name so that you can be accountable," Dawson said.

"It's the anonymity they celebrate because they think there are no consequences."

Ms Carnell is urging those who suffer online bullying not to suffer in silence but report abuse and to talk about their suffering.

"The important thing to do is speak up about it," she said.

"People think 'I should be able to manage this by myself' but bullying needs to be reported. Tell someone.

"Report it to [the social media website], talk to a friend.

"If bullying continues, it's important to report it to the police."

A Federal Government scheme that handles complaints about hateful material on social media sites persuaded Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Yahoo to sign up to its guidelines last year.

The Coalition Government is currently considering introducing a legally binding scheme that will include civil penalties and a simplified cyberbullying offence designed to make the prosecution of cyber trolls easier.

Likening cyberbullying to the phenomena of workplace bullying, Ms Carnell said: "We need to have real penalties in place for people who engage in bullying.

"We have to get mechanisms in place. This is a form of violence."

Meanwhile, tributes continued to pour in for the former model, including from New Zealand prime minister John Key, who said he was "shocked and saddened to hear of Charlotte Dawson's death".

Actor Russell Crowe, a friend of Dawson's since they were teenagers, said: "Just don't understand. There's not enough kind souls as it is".

Dawson's body was discovered in her luxury waterside apartment in Woolloomooloo, Sydney, just hours before the property was due to be sold at auction.

If you or someone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Topics: social-media, suicide, information-and-communication, internet-culture, bullying, woolloomooloo-2011, australia

First posted