| |
You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Mental Health > Suicide Prevention > Suicide Prevention
Expert: Chris Harris
Date: 5/8/2008
Subject: Suicide Prevention
Question
As an expert, do you believe that when a teacher or a part of the administration does not do his or her job in preventing peer pressure and/or bullying, the student has the right to take the situation into his or her on hands? Do you believe that one of the reasons for suicide is teachers and administrators not doing their job in protecting the rights of students? Do you believe that in order for teens not to have the feeling of suicide in not only their mind but also in their hearts they have to learn to fight for themselves? My name is megan and I am a 17 year old junior at Pioneer Career and Technology Center. I am enrolled in the welding program. Since I was in kindergarten I have been ridiculled and bullied for who I am, where i come from and what i look like. These things are understandable at a young age but usually kids should grow out of it. For about the past four years i have been suicidal or have had suicidal thoughts. Most of the thoughts were due to being bullied by a girl named Candiss. I repeatedly told the teachers, the principal, and the guidance counselor about how he needed to control her and start doing it soon. I never told him of my suicidal thoughts or anyone else for that matter, but i deffinitely had them. So after four years of being bullied, and after four years of the principal not doing anything, I finally stood up for myself. I believe that fighting her was the right thing to do and so do my parents. My mother sent a letter to the Ohio board of education and my father said several things to Mr. Zeiter(Principal of Buckeye Central High School). Please contact me with your feelings and/or comments. Thankyou, Megan, Ohio
Answer
Megan,
It sounds like you did all the right things by going to the adults in charge for help. From your description it sounds like a lot of adults have let you down. I am glad to hear your parents are supportive and advocating for you. Bullying can lead to serious trauma, depression, suicidal thoughts, and a host of other problems. Most school actively work to reduce bullying behavior and you are right, you school should have done a better job. The fact remains that bullying makes the targeted person feel terrible but it is usually committed by someone who feels very insecure about themselves. I do not advocate violence to solve problems but you do need to stand up for yourself if no one else will do so. It is just another example of the failure of the adults in the system to address your needs. My guess is you will receive some kind of punishment for your altercation and I hope the adults will give you the help you need. Good luck,
Chris
Add to this Answer
Ask a Question
|
|
