This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-45323933
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| US boy, 9, killed himself after homophobic bullying, mum says | US boy, 9, killed himself after homophobic bullying, mum says |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A nine-year-old boy has killed himself after enduring four days of homophobic bullying at school in Denver, Colorado, his mother says. | A nine-year-old boy has killed himself after enduring four days of homophobic bullying at school in Denver, Colorado, his mother says. |
| Leia Pierce told KDVR-TV that her son, Jamel Myles, revealed to her over the summer that he was gay. | Leia Pierce told KDVR-TV that her son, Jamel Myles, revealed to her over the summer that he was gay. |
| She said Jamel wanted to go to school and tell his classmates because he was "proud" to be gay. | She said Jamel wanted to go to school and tell his classmates because he was "proud" to be gay. |
| Denver Public Schools (DPS) say crisis counsellors have been made available to students at Jamel's elementary school. | Denver Public Schools (DPS) say crisis counsellors have been made available to students at Jamel's elementary school. |
| The school system sent letters to families on Friday about the additional counselling services for students, according to local media. | The school system sent letters to families on Friday about the additional counselling services for students, according to local media. |
| "It's always tough when a little one takes his life," DPS spokesman Will Jones said, reports the Denver Post. | "It's always tough when a little one takes his life," DPS spokesman Will Jones said, reports the Denver Post. |
| "We have our crisis team there." | "We have our crisis team there." |
| DPS did not immediately respond to a request for comment by the BBC. | DPS did not immediately respond to a request for comment by the BBC. |
| Denver police are investigating the boy's death as a suicide. | |
| Jamel's body was found at home on Thursday, Ms Pierce told local media. | Jamel's body was found at home on Thursday, Ms Pierce told local media. |
| He had begun attending fourth grade at the Joe Shoemaker Elementary School on Monday, she said. | He had begun attending fourth grade at the Joe Shoemaker Elementary School on Monday, she said. |
| "My son told my oldest daughter the kids at school told him to kill himself," Ms Pierce said. | "My son told my oldest daughter the kids at school told him to kill himself," Ms Pierce said. |
| "I'm just sad he didn't come to me. I'm so upset that he thought that was his option." | "I'm just sad he didn't come to me. I'm so upset that he thought that was his option." |
| She said that when he had told her he was gay, he looked "so scared", but she reassured him she still loved him. | She said that when he had told her he was gay, he looked "so scared", but she reassured him she still loved him. |
| Ms Pierce said she hopes her son's death can raise awareness of the effects of bullying. | Ms Pierce said she hopes her son's death can raise awareness of the effects of bullying. |
| How to get help | How to get help |
| From Canada or US: If you're in an emergency, please call 911 | From Canada or US: If you're in an emergency, please call 911 |
| You can contact the US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255 or the Crisis Test Line by texting HOME to 741741 | You can contact the US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255 or the Crisis Test Line by texting HOME to 741741 |
| Young people in need of help can call Kids Help Phone on 1-800-668-6868 | Young people in need of help can call Kids Help Phone on 1-800-668-6868 |
| If you are in the UK, you can call the Samaritans on 116123 | If you are in the UK, you can call the Samaritans on 116123 |
| For support and more information on emotional distress, click here. | For support and more information on emotional distress, click here. |