Targeted by bullies, teen hangs himself in schoolyard
PORTLAND, Ore. – After KATU's coverage of a cluster of seven teen suicides in the town of Battle Ground, the discussion about suicide has branched out to deal with the issue in communities across the area.
In the town of La Grande, Ore. two children in the last three months were intent on ending their own lives. A 16-year-old girl killed herself in October and now there’s a 15-year-old boy who is not expected to live after hanging himself.
His family said he was the target of bullying.
Through Skype on Monday, Bud Hill shared what he admires about Jadin Bell, the son of a family friend who is so close that Hill considers Jadin his nephew.
"If someone was down and out he would walk into a room and say a couple quick words and everybody would just forget about their problems and smile. He just had a gift," Hill said.
Dozens of people came together last week in La Grande in a vigil for Jadin, trying to understand what drove him to despair nine days ago.
He came to the playground of Central Elementary School in La Grande. He climbed on a play structure and hanged himself. Someone passing by tried to rescue him. He was brought to Portland and Doernbecher Children's Hospital where he was put on life support.
Hill says Jadin was pushed to suicide after being bullied in person and on the Internet for being gay.
"He was different, and they tend to pick on the different ones," Hill said.
Hill says Jadin asked his parents to home school him. He feared turning in the bullies would make things worse. But he had found the courage, recently.
The school district says it was in the process of investigating when Jadin tried to end his life. At Doernbecher, doctors detected little brain activity and Jadin was removed from life support over the weekend.
His family is by his side.
"It's tough enough to deal with what you know is coming up, but the waiting is not good," Hill said.
The superintendent in La Grande says everyone there is heartbroken. He's asked a mental health agency to look at how the school deals with these issues to see if there’s a better way to handle it.
Hill is vowing to start a new organization in Jadin's honor to tackle these issues.
It was a KATU On Your Side Investigation into the two most recent suicides in Battle Ground that sparked this local conversation about teen suicide.
Resources for youth:
- Mind Your Mind: A non-profit dedicated to providing reliable information for youth dealing with depression, anxiety, and suicide. The site contains youth-specific resources, tips for coping with mental illness issues, and the personal stories of youth who have experienced and overcome these issues.
- Reach Out: A website for youth, by youth, with information on how to help yourself or a friend who is thinking about suicide. Allows youth to share their stories about overcoming depression and suicide in an online, supportive environment.
- We Can Help Us: A collection of videos made by real teens who have gone through a variety of different challenges and overcome them. Also allows other youth to share their own stories in a supportive environment.
- The Trevor Project: A website dedicated to helping LGBTQ youth dealing with depression, anxiety, and suicide. Also operates a 24-hour crisis hotline, 1-866-4-U-TREVOR.
- The Jed Foundation: A resource for college students containing information about depression and anxiety among college students, and information about how to get help at school.
- Metanoia.org: An online resource that offers information about how to find and contact a therapist, and how to make sure your therapist is right for you. Also offers resources for connecting to a therapist online for 'e-therapy'.
- Teen forum on suicide being held in Battle Ground
Resources for parents:
- Association for Behavioral Cognitive Therapies: Offers information for parents about childhood mental health issues and advice on finding the best treatment for you and your family.
- Lok-It-Up: A campaign to promote the safe storage of firearms. Offers advice on how to safely store firearms and prevent teen firearm suicide.
- ASK Campaign: A website dedicated to gun safety. Information about firearm deaths and tips for preventing your children from gun violence.
Resources for Educators:
- Evergreen Education Association: The Evergreen Education Association is holding a "Diversity and Social Justice Conference" in February with a session that will focus on suicide prevention.
Hard enough sometimes in life-one doesn't need more from bullies.
so sad
Sounds to me like this little george dent boy was one of the bullies, and that u obviously have never been on the receiving end or had a child that was so just keep ur yap shut!!! Teaching our kids to deal with it is all well and good, but it doesnt stop it from happening and it doesnt stop the pain!!!!!
Seriously? Did anyone who commented on this page actually go to school?
Shame on you parents who step in the middle of this! Teach your child, this is a learning experience! All these children who've never had a spanking, and whose mommy saved them from the class bully will grow up to be terrible people with no character.
Hasn't bullying always gone on in childhood? Didn't we all face it? I'd you didn't feel you were bullied then I'm sorry, you were probably the bully. This is nothing new, learning how to cope with it is part of growing up, there are bullies in the adult world as well. My condolences to this boys family, sincerely. Shouldn't we all ask are selves why we are acting this way about it? What's wrong with us? We are supposed to teach our children how to deal with it and stand up for themselves. This is a hard world and pretending its not, to be a society that is shocked by childhood bullying leaves children woefully unprepared for the real world. What is wrong with you people?
It's a problem everywhere, always has been.......
YES !!!! and it starts too early in school :(
I must say I did have good results when I called these authorities. I was always very professional when I called & talked to these people & I made sure to stick to the facts. I also listened to their thoughts & together we worked it out.
yes
As a parent we cant just let the kids deal with it themselves. We need to call the schools, bus drivers,police, so these authority figures know it's not a joke. Teens are so easily dismissed by these people.
When my son was bullies @ school I called vice principal & the principal. When it happened on the bus I called the head of the buses. When it happened in our neighborhood I called the bullies house & the police..the police set them straight.
The real problem is that kids are not afraid of what is going to happen to them anymore. That is why it keeps getting worse an we have talked to the school it don't help. An when it does it only lasts a little while ..
It is a huge problem in fremont. My daughter get bullied alot and they just let go.
YES. When my son was being bullied I told him to go to the counsellor. When that didn't help, I told him to see the vice-principal. He did both several times. One day while sitting across the street we watched our son coming down the steps when another boy came out of the school and "Sunday-punched" my son. We immediately went into the office and talked to the vice principle. He admitted that our son had been in to talk to him about the bullying SEVERAL times, but nothing was ever done. My husband finally asked the man if they wanted a law suit. After a full year of this going on it took the threat of hitting their pocket book to get it resolved. For the last two weeks of that year the bully was suspended from school. Finally he was able to walk the halls without fear. (for 2 weeks) I did not send him back to Jo Lane Junior High. He graduated from Connections Academy last year with a better education than he would have received from public school and he was never bullied again.
@Rick, I agree with Richelle. Talk to the Principal, I would call & make an appt. today!
Yes it is a BIG problem
So sorry for this child and his family. My 9 year old was being bullied and I didn't wait for the school to resolve it. I went to the principal myself and told him if it wasn't stopped, I would take the matter in to my own hands. It has stopped... For now. WE have to be the voice for our children!!!!
Oh absolutely! Coffenberry Middle School in Myrtle Creek was one of the worst I'd ever seen. My child experienced it daily. I believe much of the bullies behavior comes from what they've learned in the home, or them acting out from what they've had to deal with in their own home. I don't feel that anyone is born naturally cruel or hateful.
YES! And it doesn't stop at kids. I know several adult bullies professionally and personally!
2 of my kids come home almost daily with an issue of bullying. It needs to stop now!
So sad :(
Yes, I believe kids are bullied everyday!! I also believe every school has it's share of bullies. It is very sad to see what a child goes through day after day being bullied.... Praying for this family
That it's so sad:( my prayers go out to his family.
Its a HUGE ongoing problem, it was so bad for my daughter at JoLane that I enrolled her in online school. Thoughts and prayers to all families effected by this!!
Obviously, Yes ! My sincere condolences to this young mans family. I am very,very sorry.
THIS is very sad & unacceptable. Yes Dear God keep your arms around this family in their time of need. Let then feel your presence. Heaven now has a special angel.
Absolutely!!! I hear about it going on daily! After having my son go through it 2 years in a row, we pulled him out of public school. Best decision ever!!!!!
Dear God please bless and comfort his family, friends, neighbors & classmates.
That breaks my heart.
The new principle at Rose is Amazing ...Call him!!!
also even if it is not your child but you know of a child who is bullied or abused your responsibility as an adult is to tell someone! A moment out of your day can end up saving a life!
@ rick... If your child is too scared to tell then your job as a responsible parent is to tell yourself. Go to the school and speak with the principal and teacher. I know they will not tolerate it. However if it persists then go speak with the parents of the child and if that doesnt work get the police to speak with the child and parents. It is never acceptable to just put bullying to the side. Also teach your children about bullying.. Even if your child is not doing the bullying but they watch they are just as much the bully! People of abuse or bullying are wishing praying and hoping someone will tell for them most of the time as they are always scared of the outcome
It is everywhere. I have horror stories but would take too long to tell them. But it is so sad that this continues
Bullying needs to stop! After it gets so bad they either kills themselves or brings guns to school to kill the bully and every one else!
How sad :(
It is a severe problem in this area even with the anti-bullying rules in the schools. I hear about it almost daily from my teenage daughters and their friends. It needs to stop. NOW.
It's happens @ Freemont too....
It is*
Very sad. However there will always be bullies. It more important to focus on the ideals of self worth. And make kids know that no matter what anyone says they have purpose and a reason to live.
My son goes to Rose an says it happens to him every day... Ive tried to talk to him an tell him to tell but he says that just makes it worse...
That's awful:(