Bullied kid attempted suicide

[Seeking Answers]

A freshman at my nephew's school (my nephew is a sophomore) attempted suicide yesterday.  He was bullied for being gay.  It's a story we hear all too often these days and it really sickens and upsets me.  This one has hit close to home.  I don't even know the kid, but I feel I should do something.  I don't know what.  All I can do right now is pray and I hope that a few of you might join in sending good vibes/prayers/etc to this kid and others like him.  Thankfully the kid is going to be okay.  He is currently being transferred to a psychiatric institute to get the help he needs. 

I don't know what reaction if any the school will have.  It's a small town Bible Belt school so there's no telling.  People are uncomfortable with homosexuality and even more uncomfortable with suicide.  I just hope that it isn't swept under the rug and ignored.  It's times like this that I can't wait to get my counseling degree.  I hope to apply to the program within the next year or so.  I will be able to help people in these situations and have a little more clout when I speak out against things like this.

Anyway, I just needed to vent.  If you have any suggestions on anything to do about this, let me know.  Thanks.

[NorthernWoman]

There is an organization that helps LGBT kids.

http://www.itgetsbetter.org/

Its a great message that I wish would reach all the kids who think that the world would be better off without them, or who feel so isolated that suicide seems like the only choice.

[Kaleesie]

Sadly, this is something we hear way too much of. Bullying. Persecuted for being gay. And suicide (no matter the age).
Intolerance is something that must be addressed.

Im sending out positive energies out to this young man. May he heal and get the help he needs.
Those whom his story and life is affected, may they get the help they need also

Blessed Be
Kaleesie

[ferox1012]

Good afternoon.

I hate this sort of a thing. When I was young, I was bullied for being gay too,...........and I'm not even gay.

Ironically, when trying to debate with some people about homosexuality within Christian chat forums, the "haters" would try to sway things in their favor  when arguing about the "evils of homosexuality" by stating[among other things]how much higher the suicide rate is among homosexual teens than heterosexual teens, and use stories like this to try and prove their point. AUGH! The IRONY!

[FireSong]

This is just too common.  When will the ignorance stop?

I'll be praying for him; I hope that those who love him can be supportive and help him through all of these difficulties.

[Seeking Answers]

Thanks guys.  No one should have to go through that sort of thing.  I am happy to say I talked to my nephew's mother (my sister in law) about this and she was every bit as horrified about it as I was.  She said she will try to find out more on the situation and whether or not there's any way we can show support or do something.  My sister in law and I don't always see eye to eye, but I am thankful that she agrees with me on this.  She, being a parent of a child at the school, may have some influence.

[xXuglywolfXx]

If your nephew is friends with the kid that was being bullied, maybe giving him a chance to vent would be helpful. A lot of suicide attempts are a cry for help (I'm not saying that they are not serious and should be dealt with immediately). Maybe helping this kid let out some of his emotions, and let him know that there are people he can turn to, that will support him...maybe all he wanted was to send a very loud and clear message that he's not happy, and doesn't quite know what to do.
Advice that goes around often in my family to counter any kind of negativity from other people is: Just keep smiling; it confuses those around you and the stupid are weak to confusion. 
Either way, I hope he's doing better, and at least has the support and love of his family, no matter his life choices. If you can, send him my best wishes.

[Finduilas]

I'm waiting for the day when sexual preference will finally be your business alone and not the concern of everyone around you.  It seems I will be waiting a very long time. 

Here's for a world of acceptance, however long that might take. 

[Seeking Answers]

My nephew is in a different grade and doesn't know the kid.  I heard this through someone else who does who is also a student there.  This particular student I heard it from is a Christian who is bisexual and believes wholeheartedly in acceptance of sexual orientation.  I know he'll be there for the troubled kid so I know there is at least some support available. 

[McGoonagle]

Where was the school when all of this was going on?

Was there nobody at school the child could feel confident in turning to for help?

Is there a school policy on bullying and harassment and why was it ineffective?

When I was that age you were penalized for responding to bullies, basically giving them  free rein. I thought some clues had got out there in the past 40 years.

I don't see the school as being solely to blame here, because the parents should be concerned about the welfare of their child. The fact that he had to attempt suicide to be noticed suggests that they weren't listening either. I hope they are listening now.

[Hagred]

This keeps happening again and again and it makes me mad . I have posted a few cases of sad suicide cases of gay teens on the forum. Thank the gods there are support groups such as "it gets better" and the Trevor Project that Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) supports.

Al I can say and it's pretty strong - if you or any of your family are gay or anyway different (pagan, witchy) and live in the Bible Belt and feeling harassment - just move out!  The world is a big place and you can't be a lamb and live among a pack of hungry wolves.  It will take a few hundred more years of social evolution to drive these bible thumping bigots extinct and you do not need to put up with any of it. 

Just leave them to themelves and they will tear each other apart, they cannot be happy unless they have someone to project their own shortcomings on to by bullying .  They especially feel extra brave when accompanied by their cronies but when alone they have less bounce than a dehydrated jellyfish.