I don't even know how to begin writing about a 7-year-old who's committed suicide. I'm still having a hard time wrapping my brain around the idea of a 7-year-old committing suicide.
According to early reports, the unnamed boy was distraught over the recent separation of his parents, with his father being gone from the home. He was also reportedly being "continuously" bullied by students at school. If my math is right, 7-years-old is second grade. Second grade for me was Brighton Elementary, stickball in the field beside my aunt's house, riding my bicycle up and down Potomac Ave, and just enjoying being a young kid. I cannot honest even remember knowing what the word suicide meant; therefore, I certainly wouldn't have understood how to successfully complete one. We, as a society, are in a very bad place when 7-year-olds are even thinking about ending their lives.
Where do we begin? This event screams for attention. If the suicide of a 7-year-old, a 7-year-old whose mother has already stated that he had been "continuously bullied", doesn't make everyone, and I do mean everyone, sit up and take notice, then the problem is far more entrenched than any of us ever imagined. Obviously, at age 7, we will not even begin to speculate over the "why" the bullying was occurring in the first place. What matters is that it was occurring. What matters is that, at age 7, he felt it was too much to handle. That should be all we need to know.
I've seen far too many cases where a victim of bullying has stated clearly that "nothing was done" when the incidents were reported. I've heard parents state the same thing far too often. On the facebook blog page, I hear from both victims and parents of victims who say the same thing. Over and over. I'm going to state something that should, by now, be painfully obvious: we're allowing this to continue.
We're allowing this to continue because, although more and more people are getting involved and making sure their voices are being heard, we're not demanding immediate and definitive action. We're allowing this to continue by allowing "them" to continue to sweep it all under the carpet and hope it goes away. Meanwhile, kids are dying at their own hands.
Let the suicide of this very young person be the wake-up call that's sorely needed. If nothing changes, nothing changes. That's not acceptable. Let's send lots of love and support to the family of this 7-year-old yet-to-be-named child. Imagine for a minute, if you can, the sheer agony they are going through right now.
Valuable Resources to help end teen (and, pre-teen) suicide:
Unimaginable that this is something being read. Our teaching of how bullying affects kids is far from over. Good job Ron keep it up
ReplyDeleteI completely speechless. There are not reasons enough in the world to justify this. Rest, little man. We'll keep fighting!
ReplyDeleteIt's horrible and unbelieveable I honestly did not know the word suicide when I was seven. I have never had a particularly easy life but I have not very often thought of sucide and at the age of 7 is just terrible, a seven year old should not have to do or even think of this, they should not even be being bullied. it's is sickening.
ReplyDeleteMy condolences go to the boy's family
I am hart broken for this family
ReplyDeleteWell this is a little more then unimaginable, and unbelieveable, people wake up this is really happening. At 7 years old i knew what suicide was, but knew i still had life to live, an knew life couldnt be this way forever. At the age of 13 i had tried to commit suicide 3 times, by the age of 26 now ive tried a number beyond stupid. I should have learned that I will not be dying by my own hand. Unfortunatly someone had seen that this 7 year old couldnt handle his parents seperation and the bullying in school, and allowd his attempt to be a success. Its terrible to think that were still calling this a unbelieveable event when it happens everyday, everywhere. Wake up America, Wake up World, we need to change or the hell with Dec, whatever of this year, we will kill ourselves way before then. Dont you see, this isnt wake up call its a CALL TO CHANGE OUR WAYS as a human race......ppl dont you see. If you would like to talk with me more contact me by means of facebook or yahoo or gmail paul_blackwell86@yahoo.com or stunnasuperman@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI was bullied from grade 1 to grade 10 when I finally dropped out. Don't feel bad about it; I got to continue on to a successful college life, was on the Dean's list all 3 years and went for university for another 2. I had supports in my life all along. I took it upon myself to talk to people; I've seen a counselor and continue because people - even as adults - are mean, rude and just outright dicks.
ReplyDeleteKids these days are taking the bullying to a worse extent. We have media to make sure that these kids just can't get away from things. There's no shut of. Kids have cell phones and computers and so on and they are constantly connected and it never stops. They can't empowered and think about things first - the first thing almost every human does is attack back or get defensive when being attacked. Kids tend to lash out at their bullies making it worse. Kids tend to try and hide bullying because if a parent gets involved then the bully has no problem attacking saying "ooooh you need your parents to fight for you eh?" and they have just found ammo. (1 of 2)
Saying that we need to stop this has been around for years. I think that kids are too cushioned and can't handle being called a name or lashing out at others. They need to be raised without being bubble wrapped. I remember the days when in public school kids would fight, they would get detention - not be expelled or suspended; those punishments do NOTHING but give that kid a vacation. Go back to making them stay after school for detention. Stop babying kids and saying "Oh well, after school detention is more like a punishment for the parent because they have to drive all the way to get them, or if they take a bus they won't be able to get home" Well how many times do you think a kid is going to do it when the parent starts to crack down on them because they're misbehaving? I'll tell you - twice. After the second time my parents begged the teachers to institute an in-school detention; I missed many a lunch hour with my friends because of my bad behaviour - but my bad behaviour was only because I was lashing out towards my bullies; but no one listened to me then - no one is listening now.
ReplyDeleteWe all know this is a problem - we've heard it over and over. Schools have a "no tolerance" but how many of you know how that works? It's not very good.
Back to this poor child - at 7 he should have had supports in place. Parents should have seen the change in attitude; I know it's easy to push it off as "Oh he's just tired and moody" or "He's just broken up about the divorce" - Well DUH? How about asking him how that's effecting him. How about getting the support systems in place to prevent these things.
Ultimately in my line of work... Many young kids and teens end up taking their lives because of the lack of support systems and parents who don't have time to pick up on things. Both parents work 9-5, at about 7:30-8 that 7 year old would be going to bed. That's not much time to spend with that child or check in with them.
Any parents who took the time to read this please listen to this last thing if nothing else: CHECK IN WITH YOUR CHILD. As they get older they will be more open and if there are problems they will be more likely to talk to you. Don't get all hyped up and say you have to do something about everything; JUST LISTEN. If the kid says "I feel guilty about things, I can't sleep - I haven't done anything wrong" This is an early sign of depression and anxiety - one of the more common things young kids are getting diagnosed with. I can't say it enough; listen to your kid; make a weekly check in where you go get an ice cream or a hot chocolate, a milkshake; heck I don't care; go do something with them. At first they won't want to; especially if they are older; the younger you start the better. Also: You're a parent not a friend. Sometimes if they tell you they did something bad; make sure they know it's bad; but again; don't get angry or upset or start yelling. You made mistakes too - lashing out doesn't solve it. School bullies are one thing; but there are parent bullies too (2 of 2)
I know why young kids are thinking of suicide. It's because the most bullying occurs in elementary school. It's because young children adopt the hate they see in the world and are too young to develop a sense of self to see what they are doing to others. It's horrible, and it has to stop. Teachers and parents need to watch and care about their kids and notice changes in them and accept the truth of their problems.
ReplyDeleteI'm 40 this year, by an accident of Love. I wanted to end my life when I was 12, because my self esteem had been so eroded through the constant anti-Gay, anti-Fat, anti-intellectual, anti-me abuse. I had no friends, and I endured what amounted to torture daily, beginning in Kindegarten. I empathize and completely understand how a sensitive, bright, caring child can be so in pain that self destruction seems like the way out.
ReplyDeleteIt should outrage you that when I was a child and being thrown to the ground and viciously kicked my teacher laughed, and when I complained I was the one officially punished. It was MY fault because I didn't conform to the set pattern. Because I was a sissy. This is the America I grew up with. It hasn't changed.
yeah, the thing about bullying? how EXACTLY are we supposed to stop it? I mean, it's all well and good to point the finger at someone and say that they "weren't doing their job", but it's like, what exactly IS your great solution for bullying, then? suspension? expulsion? what?
ReplyDeleteThank you, fuchsiascreams, for your insightful comment. Let me start by saying that I've never claimed to have a "great solution". Rest assured, if I OR ANYONE had a "great solution", this problem wouldn't be continuing and escalating. However, it is painfully obvious that there ARE people who could be making a different but aren't. What you perceive as "pointing fingers" is only pointing out what real and should be obvious. I hear from many, many victims of bullying, and in 98% of the cases, AT LEAST, the story is the same: "NOBODY DID ANYTHING!". Rather than direct your frustration and hostility towards someone who is at least making an attempt to make a difference, perhaps we would all be much better served if you were to channel that energy towards trying make a positive difference. Thanks again for you comment.
DeleteI.m just speechless......... RIP young man. x
ReplyDelete