 | Mediating traumatic experiences through MyKnet.org |
|
How does MyKnet.org contribute to the dealing with traumatic experiences such as the loss of friends and family members through suicide? How do homepage users re(present) and dicuss violent events they experience in their lives? How is MyKnet.org used by (mental) health frontline workes in the communities?; etc. |
 | Re: Mediating traumatic experiences through MyKnet.org |
|
I have seen the "shoutbox" used as a memorial. People are able to post their memories and respects on a deceased person's myknet page. |
| Re: Mediating traumatic experiences through MyKnet.org |
|
Thanks Franz for this info! Do know of any concrete homepage where the cbox is used this way? Best, Philipp |
 | Re: Mediating traumatic experiences through MyKnet.org |
|
Philipp ... Often when a suicide occurs and the person's c-box is being used as a memorial, the family usually requests that the page be suspended immediately especially if other young people are writing that they will be seeing them soon. Every suicide scares everyone because too often we witness "sets" of suicides where one friend goes first and then shortly afterwards there are other friends or people who know this person either kill themselves or attempt to commit suicide. That is why communities have these crisis teams who quickly mobilize and begin patrolling the community and putting at-risk individuals under 24 hour watch. Often, crisis teams from other First Nations travel over to the community where the suicide occurred to provide back up support for the local team. A couple of years ago a good friend and former co-worker of K-Net killed herself here in Sioux Lookout. This person was well liked and her family is a very well-respected and well-liked couple. Their first reaction to this person's c-box was to take it down but their other daughter then requested that we put it back up so people could leave messages to the family and share their own grief. After a couple of weeks, we then got the call from the daughter requesting that we suspend the page. I remember this experience because for the past two years there has been a memorial service and celebration of this young person's life. Brian |
| Re: Mediating traumatic experiences through MyKnet.org |
|
Philipp ... I just read your paper "The new mediation of traumatic experiences: how the First Nation online environment MyKnet.org contributes to the dealing with suicides in Northern Ontario, Canada" that you have linked to this site. You need a good proofreader [smiles] ... I would try to do this if you sent me these papers ahead of time (not that I am that good at this either [smiles]). I really appreciate your willingness to address this VERY difficult and challenging topic online. I must say that I do not totally agree with many of the sources you quote concerning the "reasons" and their understandings about the north, the communities and the people. Too often I find they over simplify the challenges that exist for young people who live and try to survive in remote First Nations. Most of the support systems that are available in urban centres (ie. counselling services, recreation programs, etc) and lifestyle choices that the mainstream media promote are very difficult to access in these environments. Too often I hear about a relationship breaking up for any number of reasons, then inappropriate drinking and behaviours with others and the next thing you hear is there is another suicide. Often I get messages from family members asking me to take down an individual's homepage after their death. There is a concern that one suicide will lead to others trying to follow this path. When I read the comments from their former friends, I tend to believe that their friends are just trying to cope with their own loss by writing their thoughts and feelings in the person's c-box. But others view these comments as "speaking to the dead" and whatever fear that creates for them. Over the years, I have been privileged to read a lot of comments and stories on myknet.org about the loss of elders, family members and friends. Some of these stories have been very moving (like the two you share in your paper). Others are simple recognition and respectful memorials of those who have past on ... in any case, I see myknet.org as a space that people are free to use as they see fit and for whatever purpose that they require (without hurting others). A traumatic experience just began this week with a young man (Charles Fox's son) who developed blasto and is near death in Winnipeg. His brother died a few years ago from cancer and the memorials on people's homepages were amazing. Check out http://sandrachapman.myknet.org/ or http://jackmckay.myknet.org/ for the latest updates. Brian |
| Re: Mediating traumatic experiences through MyKnet.org |
|
Thanks a lot, Brian, for sharing your experiences and ideas on this topic. I was wondering about the personal versus/or/and public usage of MyKnet homepages. Do you think people consider their homepage as a personal and private space that can be accessed publicly or as a public space that is being used very personally? And do you have any idea how the loss of friends and family members is being handled within the communities - more private in a small group or more public in the whole community? Any thoughts on that? Thanks and all the best, Philipp |