Following the ninth grader’s suicide at Coweta, classmates are saying that he may have been a victim of bullying. Tulsa’s Family and Children Services’ Carrie Little says that symptoms of bullying and suicide may blend together but may not be the outcome of the other. Little says symptoms of both are mood changes and isolation. She says children who consider suicide may say “The world would be better off without me.”
Little wants parents to have an open communication and take things seriously when their children talk about being bullied and mention hints of suicide. She encourages getting in contact with school administrators. To boost children’s self esteem, Little says for parents to get them involved in activities that they enjoy.