Jelena Dokic reveals on Q&A how online trolls have targeted her with cruel question

An emotional Jelena Dokic has revealed that ‘evil’ cyber trolls have taunted her by asking ‘are you going to kill yourself?’

The Yugoslavian-born Australian tennis star admitted she had received the vile abuse, during ABC’s Q&A program Monday.

Last year the 39-year-old bravely admitted on Instagram that she almost jumped from a 26th floor balcony while struggling to cope with sustained depression and anxiety.

The former world No.4 player is now a mental health advocate and confessed that even in that role she cops all sorts of abuse.

‘You do get a bit of this hate and you get trolling and I’ve had it on everything, from a mental health perspective to body shaming to abuse as well,’ Dokic said. 

See also  Queen Letizia stuns in summery polka dot number

Last year Dokic, 39, bravely admitted on Instagram that she almost jumped from a 26th floor balcony while struggling to cope with sustained depression and anxiety

‘I consider myself to be pretty strong and I’ve got pretty thick skin, but to actually read some of those things [like] ‘Are you going to try and kill yourself again?’ – Which is what happened this year, with a laughing emoji…

‘I’m not the only one who gets it, and it’s been something that I’ve been so passionate about.’

Dokic stands by her claims that online abuse is ‘evil’ and needs to be stubbed out.

‘You have no idea how many people… come to me and say, or write to me, and say my brother took his life 25 hours ago and we were at his funeral,’ she said.

With her voice breaking, Ms Dokic said ‘it breaks my heart because there are so many people suffering’.

She explained that nine Australians take their life every day.

‘That’s almost 3500 people a year and a million a year worldwide. And someone is out there joking about it?

‘You don’t know what kind of damage it can do to me or to someone else.’ 

Dokic said she disagrees with the view of some people who say online abuse is to be expected for anyone opening up social media. 

‘It’s not. Why is normal to be abused?

An emotional Jelena Dokic has revealed that ‘evil’ cyber trolls have taunted her by asking ‘are you going to kill herself?’ 

See also  UFC temporarily BANS fighters who choose to stay associated with suspended coach James Krause

Dokic said she disagrees with the view of some people who say online abuse is to be expected for anyone opening up social media

‘If we had it in real life people wouldn’t be able to get away with it. 

‘If I was on a tennis court, on centre court in te middle of the Australian Open and someone was screaming out, insulting me, they would get get taken away by security, and there would be consequences.

‘So I think the question is why are there no consequences when it actually comes to social media?’

She supports the idea that all accounts could be verified and estimated that ’90 per cent of trolls who have abused her online had no picture, no followers and were anonymous. 

If you or anyone you know is in need of mental health support, you can call Lifeline free on 13 11 14.