Children Who Take Their Own Life

Suicide is a terrible act. What happens to people to make them feel this is the only option in life? I am trying to make sense of what happened to young Mitchell Wilson, aged 11 when he took his own life in Pickering, Ontario on September 6th, 2011. I did not know this young man personally but did know some of his family. The family are loving and caring people who look out and after one another.

Recently I attended a funeral for a friend of mine who was this young man's Great Aunt. She died in her early sixties of cancer after suffering and battling this terrible disease for the past 8 years.  This family lost another member to cancer, young Mitchell's mother only 3 years ago.  How much pain does one family have to go through?

Mitchell suffered from Muscular Dystrophy making him different from other children. Being different can attract other children's attention, especially those with self esteem issues causing them to target these children and to be cruel. This is what happened to poor Mitchell. He was attacked by a healthy 12 year old boy. The attacker was charged with being a bully since it is against the law in Canada especially where it concerns children. The child was punished by being transferred to another school but this did not stop the bullying this poor child had to deal with. The young man who was charged had his friends take over where he left off making Michael still a target but now by a larger group because he told on his attacker.

Bullying must stop. Children and I mean all children need to learn more about Self Esteem. Has anyone watched the Dove Commercial on TV where young girls are interviewed from all over the world? The girls profiled are from all races, shapes, colours and sizes and focus on the fact that all  of them are beautiful. We need to teach children to focus on their uniqueness in the world not what makes them different. What a boring world we would have if everyone was the same.  Another commercial I love is the one about the mother buying her daughter the perfect dress to return to school in and the daughter loves it as well but the vision of how it should look on her differs from the mothers.

My nephew and his wife have one child who has Down Syndrome along with 3 other children who do not have this challenge. This child has enriched their life and and made their family stronger. All children need is love and respect of self and others to grown up how to understand how to love and respect others.

Did  Mitchell and other children who take their own lives because they have been bullied feel there is no other way to live, but to end their lives? How scary and painful is their life to cause them to end it? His parents noticed a change in his emotional state when the notice regarding having to appear in court came to their home.  He was going to have to face his attacker once again. Not only was his life not perfect having to fight his own battles with his illness but he had to battle the other children who bullied him at school and in his neighbourhood. His health probably was further affected since now he was hiding in his home rather then going on his frequent walks he used to take to help keep his muscles working.

Mitchell had signed an affidavit for the courts to explain what happened to him on the day of the incident. In this report he outlined the details of the incident and identified his attacker. I imagine in addition to this since Mitchell was hurt a medical report was included for the courts. Because Mitchell took his own life before the court date, the court appeared to be considering not proceeding since their witness was no longer available. This family is not looking for vengeance with this court proceeding. They are looking for justice. The court system should consider changing their methods on how they proceed with young children who are there because they are victims. To expose them to this severe structure is exposing them again to something they fear. Our courts are cold unfeeling places. There is nothing warm and fuzzy about them. A Victim Statement should suffice under these circumstances or if something more is needed a closed room video interview should be considered. Why re-victimize someone? Adding additional trauma to a child's life should not happen. We need to find another way.

The School Boards are trying to address the bullying problem in Canada but more is needed for this to end. Parents are responsible for promoting self esteem in their children. Do not tolerate any kind of violence. Involve your children in Good Deeds. Have them befriend someone with challenges so they get to know the person as an individual. Teach them everyone is different and an asset to the world just the way they are. Show them love and tolerance and this should help them learn with how to deal with others.

School Boards need to deal with inclusion of all not exclusion. Every team in a school should be made up with individuals with all types of strengths. Picking only the popular or most able bodied shows exclusion not inclusion. Let a child decide he does not want to do something but do not exclude him because you have decided he can't do what is expected.

We have to change our society and make it a more tolerant one so that our children who are our future are not fearful of the world.

Until next time.

 

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