Bullying & Suicide
Kelsey Ruch
Research Paper
Dr. Denise Greenwood
Due: April 15th, 2011
Bullying and Suicide On November 5, 2010, Brandon Bittner, a 14 year old boy from Mount Pleasant Mills, Pennsylvania walked six miles in the middle of the night to take his own life. Brandon left a note for his family and friends stating that he was being bullied by his peers and could not handle it any longer. Brandon even went so far as to ask his parents to find enough strength to make sure this did not happen to anyone else. Friends of Brandon state that he was bullied because of his sexual orientation, the way he dressed, and the music he listened to. The superintendent also stated that Brandon took his life a few days after they had an assembly on anti-bullying but does not believe the two situations were related. With a situation as traumatic and heart wrenching as the one just described, the first thing any parent would do is find someone to blame. And that’s exactly what the parents and friends of Brandon did. They pressed blame on his peers for bullying him so much that he felt the need to take his own life and they blamed administrators and staff for not recognizing it sooner and handling the situation properly. However, Brandon’s family and friends were wrong. Like most of us, they are not aware that bullying is not the main cause of suicide among teens. Research has shown that suicide is the “third leading cause of death among teens” (Teen Suicide Statistics), but other underlying factors are involved. Some of the underlying factors that contribute to teen suicide include psychological disorders, physical or sexual abuse, and parents who may be experiencing separation or divorce. Statistics have shown that “approximately 95% of people who die by suicide have a psychological disorder at the time of death” (Nock 1). Some of the most common disorders include depression, bipolar disorder, and alcohol or drug use. Depression can make some teens feel worthless and make them
Research Paper
Dr. Denise Greenwood
Due: April 15th, 2011
Bullying and Suicide On November 5, 2010, Brandon Bittner, a 14 year old boy from Mount Pleasant Mills, Pennsylvania walked six miles in the middle of the night to take his own life. Brandon left a note for his family and friends stating that he was being bullied by his peers and could not handle it any longer. Brandon even went so far as to ask his parents to find enough strength to make sure this did not happen to anyone else. Friends of Brandon state that he was bullied because of his sexual orientation, the way he dressed, and the music he listened to. The superintendent also stated that Brandon took his life a few days after they had an assembly on anti-bullying but does not believe the two situations were related. With a situation as traumatic and heart wrenching as the one just described, the first thing any parent would do is find someone to blame. And that’s exactly what the parents and friends of Brandon did. They pressed blame on his peers for bullying him so much that he felt the need to take his own life and they blamed administrators and staff for not recognizing it sooner and handling the situation properly. However, Brandon’s family and friends were wrong. Like most of us, they are not aware that bullying is not the main cause of suicide among teens. Research has shown that suicide is the “third leading cause of death among teens” (Teen Suicide Statistics), but other underlying factors are involved. Some of the underlying factors that contribute to teen suicide include psychological disorders, physical or sexual abuse, and parents who may be experiencing separation or divorce. Statistics have shown that “approximately 95% of people who die by suicide have a psychological disorder at the time of death” (Nock 1). Some of the most common disorders include depression, bipolar disorder, and alcohol or drug use. Depression can make some teens feel worthless and make them