Teen Schoolgirl Eats Meds After Missing Online Classes

Story By: John FengSub-EditorJoseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report

AsiaWire

A schoolgirl apparently tried to commit suicide after being criticised for missing online classes because her sibling were using the only phone the family had to follow their own online classes when the coronavirus scare caused their schools to close.

The secondary school pupil, whose family name is Li, is said to be in stable condition and not in any life-threatening condition while receiving treatment at Dengzhou Central Hospital in China’s central province of Henan.

According to reports, the tragic incident has led to an official response from local government officials who have promised to look into the family’s plight.

AsiaWire

The girl’s father, Li Hanke, and his wife both live off government disability benefits while raising three children – two daughters and a son.

Since the beginning of February, their children have had to attend online classes remotely as the COVID-19 outbreak meant no schools could reopen and bring pupils back into classrooms.

But the Li siblings, who are all in different years and classes, had to share a single mobile phone, which their father had a neighbour purchase with the little money he was able to scrape together.

It meant the three children often missed classes as one of their siblings used the phone to take their own lessons.

According to reports, the couple’s second daughter was criticised by classmates and teachers for her regular absences, leading to her decision to ingest her mother’s mental health medication on 29th February.

Footage shows the girl being loaded into the back of an ambulance before she was taken to hospital, where she is continuing her recovery.

On 1st March, a statement by the Dengzhou People’s Government said officials were investigating the circumstances surrounding the girl’s decision to ingest her mum’s medicine.

Meanwhile, donations in the sum of 10,000 RMB (1,120 GBP) have already been sent to the family home.

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