This week, another young life was lost to bullying. The late fifteen-year-old British Columbia teen Amanda Todd certainly isn't the only young light snuffed out by bullying; what was remarkable is that she chronicled her pain online in a video (above) she uploaded to YouTube last month. This is the story of thousands of boys and girls in this country who commit suicide due to the pressures of bullying. She was, reportedly, tough and strong on the outside, a gymnast and cheerleader, but if you watch the video, she was tormented inside as the online confessional shows. Who was listening? Who reached out to tell her she was loved?
How many kids are in your life, school, or community? Choose 100 random kids and line them up. Statistics say that of those 100 random kids, an alarming 14 of them (that's more than half of a homeroom) have considered killing themselves. Other studies show a higher rate.
What is disturbing is that the focus is on her behavior, her mistakes... EVERYONE makes bad choices, mistakes, the wrong decisions... EVERYONE. She was 14 years old when she decided it was okay to "flash" a stranger online, and she learned the consequences of her actions pretty quickly. What was not okay is how everyone "lost respect" for her, abandoned her when she needed a friend the most.
What can YOU today to reach out to someone like Amanda who is depressed? Lonely? Sitting alone in the lunchroom? Trying to bounce back from making a mistake?
Can you show a little kindness to someone today... kindness not shown to Amanda? Comment below if you will. Make someone smile today in an unexpected way. Imagine if everyone reading this made one person smile today, and feel loved.
According to bullyingstatistics.org, the numbers of young people who commit suicide are alarming:
- Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people, resulting in about 4,400 deaths per year, according to the CDC. For every suicide among young people, there are at least 100 suicide attempts.
- Over 14 percent of high school students have considered suicide, and almost 7 percent have attempted it.
- Bully victims are between 2 to 9 times more likely to consider suicide than non-victims, according to studies by Yale University
- 10 to 14 year old girls may be at even higher risk for suicide, according to the study above
- According to statistics reported by ABC News, nearly 30 percent of students are either bullies or victims of bullying, and 160,000 kids stay home from school every day because of fear of bullying
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