Kenneth Suttner, 17, was bullied at work and at school according to the Columbia Daily Tribune.
Tragically, on December 21st, Suttner shot himself in the head after having composed several suicide notes to his family and friends.
On February 14, a coroner’s jury ruled that his death was caused by involuntary manslaughter – and the person responsible was Harley Branham, 21, a former manager at Dairy Queen in Howard County, Missouri.
Branham had been Suttner’s superior and would force him to clean the floor while lying on his stomach and would bully him.
The jury also found that the school district was negligent in not preventing bullying and Dairy Queen was negligent in training its employees.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services explained that research shows that persistent bullying can lead to an increased sense of rejection, isolation, despair, exclusion, anxiety, and depression.
All of these behaviors can bring about suicidal ideation.
As a mother, the idea that someone can be bullied to the point of wanting to die is terrible to think about.
Bullying, according to stopbullying.gov can be attacking someone verbally or physically, spreading rumors, making threats, or excluding someone from a group.
If you are a parent, talk to your children – make sure they are not being bullied or are bullying others.
We all know high school and even middle school are challenging enough, no one deserves to be bullied – ever.
We as parents have the responsibility to make sure that all children are safe, not just our own!
It may be cliché, but children are our future!
Share away, people.