Same Story, Different Day: Another Teen Suicide Associated with Bullying

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Another story has surfaced where a teen committed suicide after experiencing bullying.  The Chicago Tribune reports that Iain Steele, a 15-year-old boy from a western suburb of Chicago, hung himself in the basement of his home.  This case, like many others, illustrates the omnipresent nature of adolescent bullying in the 21st century.  Iain was bullied at school and online and really had nowhere to go to escape the torment.

Is it just me or are the facts of these kinds of tragedies eerily similar?  In most of the bullycide or “cyberbullicide” cases that we are aware of, the story is often the same: a troubled teen who is taking medication for mental health issues is harassed by peers to the point of suicide.  Many times a romantic relationship gone bad is also part of the equation.  Schools and parents usually know that something is going on, but don’t know what to do to help.  In some cases parents take some initial steps to try to rectify the situation (by meeting with school administrators or having doctors evaluate their children), but the bullying continues.

As the article points out, the link between adolescent bullying and suicide is very clear.  Youth who are victims of bullying, and also those who bully, are at a higher risk for suicidal thoughts and attempts.  Sameer and I have an article under review that extends that relationship to cyberbullying incidents.  It’s yet another reason to take all forms of bullying seriously and to hold bullies accountable and provide support for targets.  And yes, it is YOUR responsibility.

20 Comments

  1. Wow… that is sucky news… Parents of the bullies need to start caring that their child is an A-Hole before this situation can improve. We also need to stop pampering our kids and pumping them full of self-esteem and drugging them up all the time so that when someone does call them a name online, they don't run to killing themselves. They shouldn't even entertain that notion. Period.

  2. Wow… that is sucky news… Parents of the bullies need to start caring that their child is an A-Hole before this situation can improve. We also need to stop pampering our kids and pumping them full of self-esteem and drugging them up all the time so that when someone does call them a name online, they don't run to killing themselves. They shouldn't even entertain that notion. Period.

  3. I am just wondering- could the medication these kids are on be contributing to the suicidal thoughts and feelings? Is there any similarity in the medication of all the children? There could be a connection and I wonder if it has been investigated.

    • There certainly could be a causal connection, Faith. I spoke yesterday with a woman whose 12 year-old son committed suicide last August after being tormented by bullies that the mother had gone to the school to complain about. Her son was taking the ADHD medication Concerta that she now wishes she had never administered to her child.

  4. I am just wondering- could the medication these kids are on be contributing to the suicidal thoughts and feelings? Is there any similarity in the medication of all the children? There could be a connection and I wonder if it has been investigated.

    • There certainly could be a causal connection, Faith. I spoke yesterday with a woman whose 12 year-old son committed suicide last August after being tormented by bullies that the mother had gone to the school to complain about. Her son was taking the ADHD medication Concerta that she now wishes she had never administered to her child.

  5. Quote:

    July 3rd, 2009 at 6:02 pm

    I am just wondering- could the medication these kids are on be contributing to the suicidal thoughts and feelings? Is there any similarity in the medication of all the children? There could be a connection and I wonder if it has been investigated

    /quote

    I fully agree!

    • i was on meds for mental issues and tried to commit suicide 7 times it does not help with the depression but what really pushed me so far was the fact that all the kids who were my ‘friends’ found out and turned and started making fun of me for it i was 11 and it never stopped all the way to senior year. kids are cruel and they either dont care or cant comprehend what their words can do to someone.

  6. Quote:

    July 3rd, 2009 at 6:02 pm

    I am just wondering- could the medication these kids are on be contributing to the suicidal thoughts and feelings? Is there any similarity in the medication of all the children? There could be a connection and I wonder if it has been investigated

    /quote

    I fully agree!

    • i was on meds for mental issues and tried to commit suicide 7 times it does not help with the depression but what really pushed me so far was the fact that all the kids who were my ‘friends’ found out and turned and started making fun of me for it i was 11 and it never stopped all the way to senior year. kids are cruel and they either dont care or cant comprehend what their words can do to someone.

  7. the girls said she wish we never meet. she told everyone about the prodlem. i called her fake because she is. she sometimeish,did i spell it right.lol

  8. the girls said she wish we never meet. she told everyone about the prodlem. i called her fake because she is. she sometimeish,did i spell it right.lol

  9. They say that if you ignore them they will go away, they don't!

    I had a bully in school and no matter how much I ignored her, the more she torched me. It didn't end until I got out of high school and then blocked her after she continued to harass me online. Some people aren't as lucky.

  10. They say that if you ignore them they will go away, they don't!

    I had a bully in school and no matter how much I ignored her, the more she torched me. It didn't end until I got out of high school and then blocked her after she continued to harass me online. Some people aren't as lucky.

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