‘Please take it down’: Winnipeg woman blasts those who shared online video of her near suicide
Posted September 1, 2021 4:31 pm.
Last Updated September 1, 2021 7:18 pm.
Editor’s note: This story talks about suicide. If you or anyone you know has expressed thoughts of suicide or self-harm or is exhibiting concerning changes in behavior, help is available around the clock through the Canada Suicide Prevention Service at 1-833-456-4566 or you can text 45645.
WINNIPEG (CityNews) — A Winnipeg woman says she was ready to end her life due to grief following the death of her son and because she was struggling to get the support she needed.
She says she went so far as to try killing herself by throwing herself into the waters of the Assiniboine River in mid-August.
Today, 39-year-old Stephanie Cook is still here, advocating for more resources and support for those in need.
But she’s also reminding the public to think twice about posting a traumatic incident online, as a quick post can cause permanent harm.
“That video still affects me,” she said.
Cook says the video showed her during the incident and the subsequent efforts to save her. She was only notified about it when someone asked her about a video of the incident online.
She says she looks down on those who felt it was OK to share it.
“That is not fair, that is not fair at all,” Cook said. “It’s disgusting actually, to find pleasure in somebody else’s pain.
“I’d say that I feel really bad for you. To feel that you have to report someone else’s hurt and their traumas. The fact that somebody doesn’t want to live anymore, you don’t post that. What if that was your family member, what if that was your loved one? What if that was someone you cared about?”
Cook is still reeling from the fact so many people watched what happened to her, saying it’s hard to process such a difficult time of her life being made so public.
“It broke me more than I was already broken.”
Cook says the video has been taken down for the most part, but she still worries it’s out there. As a result, she’s constantly keeping an eye out. She’s encouraging others to take action and report the video if they see it still circulating.
“Please take it down if you see it. Just please take it down. That’s all I ask. Just remember, what if that was your loved one?”
Cook says she’s tried to reclaim her relationship with the river by going on a riverboat cruise with her loved ones to try and reshape how she feels. Right now, it’s just not working, she says.
The Winnipeg woman says it was important to share her story to ensure people know the damage they can cause by posting videos of people in their time of need.
