As a news organization, we have a strict policy against covering suicides. However we are making an exception because of extraordinary circumstances.

A Broward teenager committed suicide live on the Internet. It is a horrifying story making headlines around the world. It's reported more than 1,000 Web viewers watched the teen as he was dying, and many posted comments on a chat forum.

He had a history of mental illness.

A webcam captures police finding the lifeless body of 19-year-old Abraham Biggs while webcasting on the site www.justin.tv.

“Biggs died from a toxic combination of opiates and benzodiazepine, a drug used to treat insomnia and depression,” said Wendy Crane, an investigator with the Broward County Medical Examiner's Office.

“At least one of the drugs was prescribed to him and it's unclear how he got the others,” Crane said.

Family members say he suffered from bipolar disorder, but why did Abraham commit suicide live online? Relatives believe it was a very public cry for help.

Abraham had attempted suicide on justin.tv in September. Somebody watching then called for help in time to save him. Adding to the tragedy. Reports say webcast viewers actually encouraged him in a chat room. This is an example of some of the comments posted after his death.

In a statement, justin.tv CEO Michael Seibel said, "We regret that this has occurred and want to respect the privacy of the broadcaster and his family during this time."

Because everyday there are literally millions of videos and live webcasts online, it's impossible for sites to closely monitor each one.

“We have policies in place to discourage the distribution of distressing content and our community monitors the site accordingly,” said Seibel. “The content was flagged by our community reviewed and removed according to our terms of service.”

Condolences poured into his Myspace page, where the mostly unsmiling teen is seen posing in a series of pictures with various young women.

A woman who answered the phone at Biggs' home and identified herself as his sister said the family was still dealing with his death and declined immediate comment.

Biggs' father, Abraham Biggs, Sr., told abcnews.com that he was not home when his son died. He said his son struggled with depression and had been prescribed benzodiazepine to treat bipolar disorder. Biggs had been "doing better," his father said.

"He was a good kid."

The elder Biggs said he was upset that justin.tv streamed his son's suicide live.

"There seems to be a lack of control as to what people put out on the internet," the elder Biggs said. "There's a lot of garbage out there that should not be, and unfortunately this was allowed to happen."

If you are having depression and thoughts of suicide or you think someone you love is, don't hesitate to call the suicide helpline.

Dial 211 in Miami-Dade and Broward.

In Monroe it's 305-296-HELP.

Both of those lines are open 24 hours.