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-45341355
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| US mum's anguish over nine-year-old son's suicide | US mum's anguish over nine-year-old son's suicide |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The mother of a US nine-year-old, who she says killed himself after enduring homophobic bullying, says she "should have seen the pain in his eyes". | The mother of a US nine-year-old, who she says killed himself after enduring homophobic bullying, says she "should have seen the pain in his eyes". |
| Leia Rochelle Pierce from Denver, Colorado, said her son, Jamel Myles, had been proud to tell people he was gay when he returned to school. | Leia Rochelle Pierce from Denver, Colorado, said her son, Jamel Myles, had been proud to tell people he was gay when he returned to school. |
| She told Victoria Derbyshire some fellow pupils told him to kill himself. | She told Victoria Derbyshire some fellow pupils told him to kill himself. |
| Denver Public Schools (DPS) said crisis counsellors had been made available to students at Jamel's elementary school. | Denver Public Schools (DPS) said crisis counsellors had been made available to students at Jamel's elementary school. |
| Ms Pierce said she blamed herself for his death, adding that her "heart was breaking every second". | Ms Pierce said she blamed herself for his death, adding that her "heart was breaking every second". |
| "I feel responsible because I didn't see the pain in my baby's eyes. I should have just known. It's my fault, I didn't know." | "I feel responsible because I didn't see the pain in my baby's eyes. I should have just known. It's my fault, I didn't know." |
| 'Proud of who he was' | 'Proud of who he was' |
| Ms Pierce said Jamel had told her that he was gay over the summer. He had not planned to formally come out at school, but said he was "proud of who he was and he didn't mind telling people". | Ms Pierce said Jamel had told her that he was gay over the summer. He had not planned to formally come out at school, but said he was "proud of who he was and he didn't mind telling people". |
| She said Jamel had seemed normal after his return to school, playing on her laptop and watching television as usual. But last Thursday, after only four days of term, she found him dead. | |
| "I'm pretty sure he told someone who got that whole persona of 'that's not OK' and decided to pick on him," she said. "I've sat here and seen kids pick on kids for less. I'm pretty sure he told one person and it spread and it became a worse situation." | "I'm pretty sure he told someone who got that whole persona of 'that's not OK' and decided to pick on him," she said. "I've sat here and seen kids pick on kids for less. I'm pretty sure he told one person and it spread and it became a worse situation." |
| Ms Pierce said after he died, her eldest daughter said Jamel had told her he was being bullied because he was gay. | Ms Pierce said after he died, her eldest daughter said Jamel had told her he was being bullied because he was gay. |
| "My son came home and told her the kids at school were telling him to kill himself," she said. "He didn't come to me and that hurts as I would have understood and I would have defended him. They were so close, he would just tell her everything. | "My son came home and told her the kids at school were telling him to kill himself," she said. "He didn't come to me and that hurts as I would have understood and I would have defended him. They were so close, he would just tell her everything. |
| "I don't think it's fair to go through it. That image, seeing him like that, is burnt into my brain and it hurts. I never wanted to see my baby like that or for anyone to see their baby like that, it's not right," she added. | "I don't think it's fair to go through it. That image, seeing him like that, is burnt into my brain and it hurts. I never wanted to see my baby like that or for anyone to see their baby like that, it's not right," she added. |
| 'Beautiful and special' | 'Beautiful and special' |
| Ms Pierce says all young people, regardless of their sexuality, should feel special, welcomed and warm. | Ms Pierce says all young people, regardless of their sexuality, should feel special, welcomed and warm. |
| "I would tell them they're beautiful and they're special and there's nothing different about them that should be pointed out and make them feel anything other than loved," she said. | "I would tell them they're beautiful and they're special and there's nothing different about them that should be pointed out and make them feel anything other than loved," she said. |
| "We are all different and it's our differences that make us equal, because it's the one thing we all have in common." | "We are all different and it's our differences that make us equal, because it's the one thing we all have in common." |
| Ms Pierce said Jamel's school had told her in a phone call it was going to work on suicide prevention. She said it needed to stop bullying, which was what was leading to suicide. | Ms Pierce said Jamel's school had told her in a phone call it was going to work on suicide prevention. She said it needed to stop bullying, which was what was leading to suicide. |
| "Teach your kids love, teach them it's OK to have differences, we're all different," she said. "Teach them compassion, teach them respect, teach them to be more accepting of each other. | "Teach your kids love, teach them it's OK to have differences, we're all different," she said. "Teach them compassion, teach them respect, teach them to be more accepting of each other. |
| "It doesn't matter if you're the bully or you're not the bully, there's pain in everybody. Until we correct the pain and the hurt that's in everybody and turn it into love, nothing will change. We have to change ourselves for our children." | "It doesn't matter if you're the bully or you're not the bully, there's pain in everybody. Until we correct the pain and the hurt that's in everybody and turn it into love, nothing will change. We have to change ourselves for our children." |
| Ms Pierce said Jamel "was magic". "This little boy could walk into any room and make any person feel so loved and so special. He had this pizzazz about him. | Ms Pierce said Jamel "was magic". "This little boy could walk into any room and make any person feel so loved and so special. He had this pizzazz about him. |
| "He wanted to make a change in this world and he wanted to show people love. And he can't speak right now so I am speaking words he said for everyone to hear, because a gentle kind soul just left this world because of something so cruel. And I want my son to know he made a change for the better." | "He wanted to make a change in this world and he wanted to show people love. And he can't speak right now so I am speaking words he said for everyone to hear, because a gentle kind soul just left this world because of something so cruel. And I want my son to know he made a change for the better." |
| Watch the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme on weekdays between 09:00 and 11:00 BST on BBC Two and the BBC News Channel in the UK and on iPlayer afterwards. | Watch the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme on weekdays between 09:00 and 11:00 BST on BBC Two and the BBC News Channel in the UK and on iPlayer afterwards. |
| 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 |
| In Canada, young people in need of help can call Kids Help Phone on 1-800-668-6868 | In Canada, 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. |