Past the Tipping Point: 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 died Sunday after hanging himself and being taken off life support.
Jadin Bell's 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. He died Sunday, Feb. 3.
His family was 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.
To see the original report by KATU's Anna Canzano, go here.
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.
I know how to get bullying to quit in schools. If a child kills themselves from some kid bullying them that child should be acountable for that childs death. What is the difference if the kid killed the child with words, a gun, knife or some other way. You drove that kid to want to take there own life. You drove that kid to be afraid to turn them in by intimidation. A lot of wives don't turn in abusive husbands because they are intimidated then there husband end up killing them. If these kids are bullying kids to the point they want to take there own life or the kids do turn them in and the school, teach ect... don't do anything about it they should be accountable for that childs death also. Someone should be accountable, in my oppinion it's a child and even though they took there own life it's murder to me. That kid doesn't have a choice to leave the situation. They are forced to live in that house, go to that school, classes ect... It's not like they can get away from the situation.
 @Wendy Cook I know why you are saying what you have said, and I agree with some of it however, the reality of the matter is, you cannot justly prosecute a person for someone else committing suicide.  You may be able to prosecute them for harrassment, if you can prove it, but murder, manslaughter or anything like that just isn't going to happen.
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I do have to say one other thing. Â It is my feeling that it is the parent(s) job to tech their child how to deal with this type of crap. Â It happens, it is human nature to be competitive. Â Some take it to the limits. Â I feel that these children that take their own lives have no real self-confidence for one reason or another. Â It seems to me that this is the type of stuff that they should be learning at home. Â I think too many people today try to teach kids how to subvert or get around issues when they should be teaching them to deal with them appropriately. Â
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For example, lets say life issues are represented by a gallon of water, and your life is a boat on a lake.  If every time you have an issue you dump a gallon of water into your boat, sooner or later, your boat will sink.  You have to learn to DEAL with life situations. You can do this a number of ways.  You can bail the boat every time water comes in, you can ask for help, you can pump it out by hand, you can use a bilge pump, etc...  My point is, there are numerous ways to deal with every problem that comes up in life.  Children need to be taught that almost anything can be overcome.  Nothing happens if you do nothing and sit in a corner and cry or feel sorry for yourself.  That may not be what people want to hear, but it is honest and truthful.  Human ingenuity is a wonderful thing.  It is not that difficult to figure out a way to deal with these individuals in most cases.  I am sad that this child has chosen the wrong path.
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For any children thinking that their only route is suicide, I say this:  Don't undervalue and underestimate YOUR ability to deal with issues, or your VALUE as a person.  You are far more valuable as a person than the bullies that you are ALLOWING to hurt you.  You are capable of being far stronger than you realize.  You have a lot of people in most cases that are willing to help you.  Reach out for the help and it WILL come.
My daughter has been bullied for years in union! you can go to the principal nothing If he didnt see it,it didnt happen! Go to the super..He will check into it! School board... stick togrther. Other students... wont help cause they dont want to get dogged out! Parents say.. Oh my child will stick up for them... They are one of the ones!!! PEOPLE KEEP YOUR KIDS HOME!!!
I can see myself reacting like the parents in "This is 40" to bullying. I'd pick apart every single awkward feature of the bully kid, and throw it in his face. "Alright sloth-head, nice shnauz there fatty...man the girls must realllllly like your needle #&$%" Something along those lines. Then say "how do you like them apples?"Â
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But really, I would lose it if i saw it happening. There is no reason to pick on others. To their face anyway. Making fun of hideous people behind their backs doesnt have lasting effects like to the face teasing or whatnot. my .02
I'm sure that he is such a soft,wonderful,sensitive soul that he really didn't know how to go about fighting back.He just internalized it.Bullying starts at home.Kids overhearing parent's opposition to gays as well as reinforcemnt that homosexuality is a sin and that gays are going to burn in hell forever.This subconsciously comes out as a form of bullying.
Here's a shocker, almost--and I mean ALMOST everyone--every kid, every girl, every boy...has been bullied, picked on, teased, whatever! THIS IS NOT NEW! What's changing is how the kids are taught to deal with it!! Where is the change coming from?! uh...Facebook? NO!!! uh...myspace..? NO!!! uh....the interwebsl? Guess again!!! It's the parents. There is a breakdown in the family unit somewhere! NOT teaching kids that value comes from WITHIN! NOT raising children to be critical thinkers, to be strong in who they are. By becoming your kids' friends and breaking the walls of respect, character and integrity.
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Society hasn't changed; people are no meaner now than they were 100 years ago. I was picked on, you were picked on and what's funny, it seemed the kids that were picking on each other in junior high were best buds come high school. Look in the mirror man, start being fathers again. Start being mothers again. Raise strong, independent, well-rounded kids. Teach your kids to respect...I mean really respect their elders. To open doors for people. To smile and use kind words. Teach your kids the VALUE in LIFE and the importance of humanity and the sheer BLESSING in being alive on this fine planet. And they will make you proud one day!! They WILL carry it on.
 @Ontheinside I AGREE
Our children go to school for one reason, to get an education.  Other problems in.the school is a distraction and should  not be tolerated.  The parents of the bullies are insecure with themselves and pass it on to their insecure bully children
I agree with you leinenkugle. Kids don't become bullies for no reason and they don't learn how to be one without learning the behavior from somewhere. When I look back at the bullies I knew growing up, usually the entire families were trouble makers and mean spirited. Parents who encourage bullying by allowing it or jsut doing nothing to stop it should be held accountable!
 @amyc Thank u
it seems like the only way to put a stop to bulling is to hold the parents of the bullies responsible. Â It is apparent that they do not care what their kids do. Â It is the only way to get their attention and wake up to what their out of control tyrants are doing on line and in school.
Taking this to civil court a few times and making parents pay damages  really get the moron parents attention.
I am sick over this and very sad,,, I wish the people who are bullying would realize they could make a difference by stopping now. Before they lead another to do the same. Also, I Know for a fact about 5 years ago maybe 4 years ago there was an suicidal attempt at the middle school in LaGrande I know the boys who saved him, NOTHING WAS DONE Except that kid was suspended and was forced to go to a home that caused him to feel that way, like his parents. which made it worse,,, I THINK the school should be held accountable or watched,, I know the middle school principle does nothing for bullying after all his son is the biggest one in LaGrande.... COME ON PEOPLE we send our kid's to school for an education and what is happening? Our Kid's find themselves having to be someone they are not. Or have to hide there Identity.. The principle is suppose to put a stop to this Do not tell me they do not hear kids talking and teasing the teachers have to hear it in class,,, BUT ITS OK BECAUSE THEY ARE POPULAR or whatever, I HOPE THE KIDS WHO BULLY AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING PAID TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS ARE RECEIVING EDUCATION FEEL LIKE CRAP, AND MAYBE STOP AND DO SOMETHING TO MAYBE PREVENT ANOTHER TO TAKE THERE OWN LIFE. I will never put my kid's in LaGrande School District again,
We can speculate on why Jadin made the decision he did but that won't change the outcome. Teens everywhere gay, curious, or straight, face the same challenges. Jadin reminds us that the worst weapon against our progress is silence. The media exploits this story now for ratings, but the conversation must continue. We leave Jadin in God's hands, not knowing all the answers. Only that God's hand is leading us and His love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Sad. Nothing hopeful here. Just sadness and grief. I am so sorry he is not expected to survive.Â
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My grandson goes to LaGrande Oregon School, he is 14 and he is bullied. He doesn't want his dad to say anything to the school because it will be rougher on him from the bully's. My position is the school needs to wake up and stop sweeping everything under the rug. My son talked to the school last year and nothing was done. Well they have had two (2) suicides in the small Eastern Oregon town one just last week. My grandson also wants to be home schooled, and I think it is a much better idea than subjecting him to this type of treatment. I plan on calling the school in the morning and making sure they are aware of this. If I get no where, I will be calling Shelley Bailey Shah and asked her who I get in contact with to address this problem. Thank you for your time Kathy Dunleavy Private Investigator, Portland Oregon
 @Kathy D So call the school yourself, keep the call documented.. name, date time..
Suicides don't seem to make the schools react, but you can be law suits make them react..
This type of thing is shameful, and any teacher who let's it go on should be fired... Period..
I was bullied all through high school by one guy. Â I don't know why he bullied me. Â Maybe I was an easy target.I never told anyone then, I just let it slide.
A few years later, while I was a volunteer EMT with the local fire dept, I was part of the rescue crew who responded to his mothers home.  He had taken his own life, with a shot gun under his chin.   I could feel good riddance, but I felt sorry for him, and his family. He was never happy.  Maybe that is why he bullied me?Â
I wonder if many times bullies are victims themselves? Â I hope whoever the bullies are, they get the help they need.Â
@just a thought ..Thank you for sharing that painful story. It is true that when we feel good inside we don't have the desire to torment others, it's when we feel m iserable inside we want others to feel the same.
 @just a thought Yeah, I was bullied through middle school and just the start of high school. I lived through it, but that made me the person that I am today. In a way, I can understand what they went through.
Yeah, they're broken hearted but they did nothing to end the abuse this young man suffered. This must end!
KATU... you need to tell his family so they can tell him... we are routing for him, hoping & praying that he can pull through, that he will be stronger for this. he can do it, he can find a better life after this, with people who will not judge and hurt him. it gets better, he need only make it through this short dark time. godspeed.
So sad, this brings chills to my heart. Â
This is so sad - and it makes me so sick - this poor family - that poor child - his only way out or so he thought was to end it. I've told my kids this - Bill Gates was bullied, almost every single aerospace engineer was bullied, heck, anyone who just seems a little different is bullied - but without perseverance, strength (both from yourself and parents, teachers etc) the bully will win - in the Bill Gates example - the bullies did not win.... in fact - quite the opposite.  Once I heard Chris Rock say - without bullies there would be no comedy central - we have to teach our kids how to live in an imperfect, sometimes cruel world and that what is happening to them in their present CAN be overcome - and that they WILL survive..... my heart goes out to Jadin and his family.
@ewinslow33 so we should allow children to be driven to suicide because they're not Bill Gates. What kind of monster are you?
Um, that's NOT what I said..... I mean that often times when peole are bullied - they DO get through it. I despise bullying and it's obviously causing and has always caused serious pain. My post was not monsterous. If I was, I'd want to be a cookie monster.... I never ever said it should be allowed.... I'm so sad for Jadin and for the girls in Battleground, and I'm so so sad for all kids affected by bullies. However, life really will get better and they will get through it.... love and support and adults taking action - that will help in the meantime.... sheesh JR...
 @ewinslow33 Ironically, there are people who feel that Bill Gates bullied them -- especially in business.  Often bullies don't realize that they are bullying other people or that that is how their actions come across even if it isn't their intention.
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I had an opportunity to confront some of my bullies as adults. Â What they thought of as having fun was actually legally sexual harassment but I didn't tell any adult about it nor did I let the police know. Â Once I discussed how it made me feel and what it was like to be subjected to the daily torment, the wheel clicked and they started to recognize how and why their actions were not appropriate.
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Bullying will never disappear.  It is part of the animal subculture.  As we try to protect and dominate our "own" so will others.  If we don't see eye to eye (or, more primally, if there is only one fish left and 20 people requiring food, some how several people are going to be inevitably left out -- especially if it is an encampment of two different "tribes"), we'll never agree and might result in negative behavior to reinforce our position  ("Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists." -- George W. Bush -- This statement left many people and countries feel bullied into taking action they weren't ready or prepared for.).
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What we certainly need to do is to support the kids who are being bullied.  Explain that it does and will get better.  Get them in touch with whatever group will support the ostracization (like, in this instance, having Jadin more involved with the LGBT community -- I'm not saying he wasn't but it could be the group(s) he reached out to may not have been the best group(s) for him) and encourage their independence.  Confront bullies.  I chewed my niece out (yeah, I bullied a kid!) telling her why her behavior was inappropriate and hurtful.  She didn't realize she was hurting the other kids.  She promptly went up to apologize and then went on to explain why she didn't want these two girls to sit with her (she was trying to make new friends with another set of girls and the first two wouldn't stop annoying her and trying to break in on her conversation).
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Life goes on and it is up to us, the adults, to encourage supportive, thoughtful behaviors in our lives and in our actions. Â Kids will mimic us and, hopefully, represent us with pride and honor.
I so hope he pulls though and that his plan is unsuccessful.... I really really hope so <3
I have a grandson in the first grade. He had a bully telling him no one likes him and no one wants to play with him. He told him mother and they told the principal. He is no longer bullied by that boy. Its need to be taken care of from the lowest grade. There are so many drug addicted parents not teaching thier kids morals and values. They need to teach kids to respect eachother and never accept bullying.
@ABorden That's so true! There are so many screwed up parents not teaching there kids jack but to sit on your ass and get things handed to you. What happened to the world? I'm glad my parents actually taught me to be independent and not rely on anyone. AND that's what I'm doing! :)
It's really sad these kids think they have to end there lives over some dbag that has nothing better to do then hurt peoples feelings. At least he doesn't have to deal with the people that bullied him and now he can get some revenge and haunt their asses. lol
Bullies have always been around and always will be so long as parents and society tolerate them. And don't look to schools to be much help. They've been effectively neutered as far as discipline is concerned - and many parents look to the schools to raise their children for them.
Kids have been allowed to exercise their freedoms far too often, when they NEED established boundaries and discipline. Being sent to the principal's office is nothing to many. They are disrespectful to all authority figures because it's their "right". Well, enough of that. Perhaps it's time for children to understand that they don't have rights until they've reached majority age. They have responsibilities - to be educated, to shut up and listen, and to prepare for a harsh future.
If only...
It's beyond me why "Social Studies" doesn't focus more on social issues like bullying.,....I don't think schools take prevention seriously enough and that's really where they need to focus.
BE ADVISED: ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WILL BE DONE!
Apparently, there aren't ANY ADULTS running the schools...the BULLIES ARE!
A friend of mine sent me this story, obviously upset what is happening in her community, where her son attends school. I replied as follows.
"Sad indeed that one has to bully another for no reason. I was bullied as a kid and never thought about killing myself. Somewhere these kids are getting ideas that suicide is the way out of all your problems until it their last one. Do the kids bullying realize what they do and the result. Do they come from broken homes, poorer economic families, parents that don't care, bad grades? The back lying issue will remain a mystery. In the meantime our society has been to complacent as far as being able to discipline a "out of control" child on every, parental, school or law enforcement level. Kids know they can do no wrong and continue to be a nuisance to society in his adult years till he gets caught or hopefully killed. If caught he will still be a strain on the system as we tend to babysit the bad guys with room, 3 square meals, exercise yard, cable TV, and complete health benefits. All on our thousands of dollars per day per person! Others that see kids bullying another need to step up and report to a responsible adult. Hopefully a proper punishment is administered and parents notified and also held responsible for the child's doings. Only then will we begin to see a decline in this terrible act. Please make sure that your child knows that it's OK to tell a teacher or Principal that he has seen it happening and the involved students. A good idea would be a class room discussion and teachers willing to let their superiors know of it at the time of report. It's a shame that this happens in our society."
 I start going on a rant about how messed up our species is becoming. We as humans are whipped and won't stand for what is right. I have already apologized to my kids about what a hole that they get when we're gone.
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 @paulmeys "Do they come from broken homes, poorer economic families, parents that don't care, bad grades?"
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Don't forget that several people came forward to say that Mitt Romney was a bully to them or that they observed bullying behavior he perpetrated on others (or incited others to perpetrate).
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Someone else mentioned bosses and work environments.
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Some of the same leadership characteristics that make someone a "good" boss or business owner (good in this case means perceived to be successful) make them more likely to be a bully or having been a bully as a child. Â The strong will, leadership qualities, influence and persuasion are all recognized skills in people like Donald Trump, Martha Stewart, and countless others who are considered successful.
"Cultivate character." - the Sandy Hook father who testified yesterday.Â
My prayers are with you Jadin.
How can the creeps that bullied this kid ever live with themselves and the knowledge of what they have caused? Words cannot describe my feelings about them; although loathsome and disgusting come to mind for starters.
 @Nobody As terrible as it sounds (and it is) these bullies are on a power trip.  When one of their victims buckles and tries to end their life, the bully sees it as proof how weak they were.  Sad, sad times we live in.
Breaks my heart! I hope Jadin can pull through, medical miracles can happen. Just goes to show, that regardless of how other people look, or how they identify themselves, they need our love, and they don't need the bullying. What kind of crazy world is it if people think it's okay to bully other people to this extreme? Did I deal with bullying? Absolutely, in grade school and junior high I was bullied, and then in high school, I retaliated and bullied 1 or 2 people that I thought were threats to my ego. To this day, I feel haunted by both, being bullied, and being a bully. There's no excuse for it, and I hope that people take this to heart that it's not cool to be a bully anymore, that when you bully others, it can have lifelong impacts and tragic results.
Praying for you Jadin and family.
Another great resource is the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - www.afsp.org .. Please go there to find out how you can volunteer in your local community. There is a chapter right here in Oregon and I am on the Board of Directors. Nationally, we are the leading organization for research and programs addressing suicide prevention.
So sad...... I hope you finally find peace Jadin.
shame on the miserable thugs if they drove someone to do this
Shame on a spineless society that's so bent on being "politically correct" that they're allow this kind of thing to happen for fear of offending the offender.
shame on those who seek self gratification by tormenting weaker people. this kid could have taken the alternate route of bringing an ssault rifle to school. the bullies should be thankful and will hopefully change their ways
If that's how they thought, it wouldn't have happened in the first place.
Hopefully the bullies will be haunted by this for the rest of their lives but likely the type of people that bully they are probably laughing about it and will never take responsibility...
 @FreedomRocks Sadly, they may not necessarily realize they ARE the bullies that caused this young man to try and take his life.  Often bullies think OTHERS are the problem.  Its a strange dynamic but it happens.