A Singapore primary school has told parents to stop spreading rumours on various chat groups about a “suicide game”.
The principal of Rosyth School, Madam Elis Tan, wrote to parents on Tuesday, clarifying the incident, which involved a group of students playing a self-devised “merit/demerit system” game.
Points were credited for positive events (e.g, praise by teachers), and deducted for negative ones (e.g, poor spelling). The objective of the game was to gain as many 'happiness' points as possible.
“As the game progressed, a primary one boy expressed his desire to stop playing. In a bid to persuade him to complete the same, the other children made comments along the lines of, that one would exit when he/she 'dies' from the game,” Tan wrote in the letter.
“Though the students understood it as the 'end of the game', unfortunately the primary one boy did not perceive it in the same way. As a result, the latter reported the incident to his parents when he reached home, who in turn updated the school.”
Tan stressed that no physical hurt was inflicted during the course of the game.
“Upon being notified of the case, the school took immediate actions to warn the students involved against the playing of the game, whilst investigations were carried out,” Tan wrote.
“There was strict compliance by the students and there have been no further reports of the game being played.”
Tan added that the students have since been counselled and “advised against the compulsion of others in the playing of games”, as well as the use of “loose language”, which may be misconstrued and result in fear and anxiety.
If you or someone you know is dealing with issues relating to depression or suicide, contact SOS (Samaritans of Singapore) on 1800-221 4444.
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